The Indian duo delivered a stunning performance in the 10m air pistol mixed team final, scoring 484.6 to set a new Asian record and claim gold. South Korea\u2019s Choo Gaeun and Hong Suhyeon won silver with 478.0, while Iran\u2019s Rostamyan Haniyeh and Golkhandan Vahid took bronze with 415.8.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The result came after both Suruchi and Kamaljeet failed to qualify for the individual 10m air pistol final, but Jung urged them to treat it as the past and focus on the opportunity ahead.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThe coach told me before the match that yesterday's match was already over. What\u2019s the point of thinking about it now? Focus on the next day. It\u2019s not like you only have to win the gold. Everyone is here to play. You just have faith in yourself and follow your technique. You will get the gold,\u201d Kamaljeet replied to an IANS query during a media interaction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Suruchi said the coach\u2019s message was simple: dwelling on the past would only affect their next opportunity.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cHe said the setback is past. If we think about it, we will ruin our future. That match is over. If we think about it and ruin the next, we won\u2019t get a medal,\u201d Suruchi said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The duo also rewrote the Asian record on the way to the gold. Suruchi said neither shooter was thinking about the record during the final as they remained focused on their own screens and technique.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cNothing happens during the match. During the match, we don\u2019t look at the screen. We don\u2019t look at the scoreboard or anything else. We don\u2019t look at anyone else\u2019s screen. We focus on what comes on our screen,\u201d she said in a media interaction.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThere was no such thing as coming behind the record or coming on the record. There was no such thing. After the match, it was on the scoreboard that I scored a new record. So, it was a good thing that I scored a new record,\u201d she added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Earlier in qualification, the Indian pair had broken the Asian Games Qualification Record with a score of 587 (29 inner 10s), surpassing the previous mark of 577 set by fellow Indians Sarabjot Singh and Divya Subbaraju at Hangzhou 2023. Their qualification score also equalled the Asian record of 587 set by Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker in 2021.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
For Kamaljeet, the gold medal was also a tribute to his family, particularly his father, whose support helped him continue shooting through difficult financial circumstances. \u201cHis role is the most important in my life. If he didn\u2019t support me, I wouldn\u2019t be where I am today,\u201d Kamaljeet said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a good family situation. I had an accident and had to spend four to five lakh. It was on loan. He didn\u2019t tell me where the money would come from. He supported me and told me to focus on my shooting,\u201d he added. \u201cMy family is my biggest support. They supported me. That\u2019s how I got my medal. Otherwise, I would have quit shooting four years ago.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Suruchi also credited her parents, particularly her father, who served in the army and introduced her to shooting. \u201cMy father\u2019s role is very important. He served in the army. Then he started helping with my shooting. My younger brother also shoots. He was always with me. He helped me a lot. He never left me alone. He was always with me. My parents supported me a lot,\u201d Suruchi said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have a good family situation. I had an accident and had to spend four to five lakh. It was on loan. He didn\u2019t tell me where the money would come from. He supported me and told me to focus on my shooting,\u201d he added. \u201cMy family is my biggest support. They supported me. That\u2019s how I got my medal. Otherwise, I would have quit shooting four years ago.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The gold added another major medal to India\u2019s shooting campaign at the Asian Games and gave Suruchi and Kamaljeet a memorable response to their individual disappointment, with their 484.6 score ensuring they returned to the podium in record-breaking fashion.<\/p>\r\n\r\n