India couldn’t have hoped for a better opening to the last ISSF World Cup Final of the year, in Doha. Suruchi Singh showed how good she was in the women’s 10m air pistol, getting gold and a new junior world record of 245.1. Her teammate Sainyam then made it a wonderful 1-2 for India by getting silver with 243.3.
Suruchi’s score beat Manu Bhaker’s old junior record of 241.7 from 2019. While the number is what people will remember, how she won was even more impressive. The 21-year-old stayed calm when it mattered, beat a very good group of competitors, and won by a good amount.
This result also changed how things looked for India, after the rifle team had a quiet start earlier that day. With two medals in the first big pistol final, the team got going in a competition which usually favours those in good shape and who can handle being under pressure.
Suruchi Singh breaks junior world record, wins gold
Suruchi went to Doha as one of the best shooters in 2024. She had been in charge of the World Cup events with four golds in a row and had been the world No.1 for a short time in September and October. In Doha, she qualified in second place with 586 in the group of 12 top shooters.
The final was a lesson in staying composed. Suruchi began at a good pace, then got better at grouping her shots as people started to be removed from the competition. Her last series of shots – accurate and not rushed – pushed her to 245.1, a junior world record and a clear total for winning the title.
Three-time Olympian Manu Bhaker, who qualified sixth with 578, finished fifth in the final with 179.2. The new champion, it is important to note, comes from Jhajjar, the same district in Haryana as Bhaker. Suruchi also got €5,000 for winning.
Sainyam’s brave effort gets India a 1-2
If Suruchi’s finish was the best part, Sainyam gave the story a twist. The 2023 junior world champion just got into the final in eighth with 573 and then went to the front with a fast run in the middle of the final.
Four 9.5s in a row stopped her going further and let Suruchi get control back. Still, Sainyam pulled herself together to get silver at 243.3, showing how much strength India has in women's 10m air pistol. She won €4,000 for second place and important experience in big competitions.
Men’s 10m air pistol: turns, pressure, and a bronze for India
The men’s final had drama in every series. Current world champion Samrat Rana seemed likely to get a good result, but a couple of low shots gave rivals a chance. China’s Hu Kai, who Samrat had beaten at the Worlds, changed things to win gold.
Germany’s Christian Reitz, the Rio 2016 Olympic champion, took silver, and Samrat had to be happy with bronze at 221.5. Varun Tomar, who was good at the start, got worse later and finished fourth with 201.2. In qualifying, Samrat scored 584 for second, and Tomar was sixth at 578.
For Samrat, getting on the podium continued his rise this year. For Tomar, the final showed that the last series of shots decide who gets medals in competitions with a lot of change and a lot of pressure.
Rifle review: Rudrankksh and Babuta almost make it
India’s rifle team found small differences went against them. Former world champion Rudrankksh Patil was able to get a medal in the men’s 10m air rifle but one early 9.8 – his only bad shot – was too much. He finished fourth with 209.9 in the final.
Arjun Babuta, third in qualifying with 633.3, ended sixth. The title went to Sweden’s Victor Lindgren, who scored 253.0 and showed a very good rhythm. China’s Sheng Lihao, a two-time Olympic champion, got silver with 252.6, and Hungary’s Istvan Peni took bronze.
Qualifying showed how good the field was. Sheng was top with a great 637.7. Lindgren got 633.5, while Rudrankksh got into the final fourth at 631.9. Every tenth of a point mattered from the start.
Women’s 10m air rifle and shotgun news
Elavenil Valarivan just missed the women’s 10m air rifle final, being ninth in qualifying with 630. It was a close cutoff on a day when being steady was more important than being exciting.
In men’s trap, India’s experienced Zorawar Sandhu finished Day 1 ninth with 70/75, shooting 23, 24, and 23. He will be back for two more qualifying rounds as the fight for the six-shot final gets stronger.
What Suruchi’s record means for Indian shooting
The junior world record is more than just a number. It shows a champion who can do well in finals, use momentum, and deal with the pressure of shots which remove people from the competition. It also shows that India is getting stronger in women’s pistol, where several athletes can compete on any stage.
With Suruchi and Sainyam doing well early, and Samrat on the podium, India's ISSF World Cup Final has got off to a good start. Doha often rewards athletes who make the most of chances. On the first day, India did exactly that.
