In a display of poise, precision, and growing dominance, Suruchi Phogat has emerged as a formidable name in world shooting. On Friday, at the 10m air pistol final of the World Cup in Munich, the 19-year-old Indian shooter captured her third straight gold medal in World Cups, adding to her twin victories in Buenos Aires earlier this year. This victory wasn’t just another podium finish; it was a compelling statement of composure under intense pressure.
Phogat’s 241.9 score was enough to edge out France’s Camille Jedrzejewski (241.7) and China’s Yao Qianxun (221.7) in a final that tested nerves as much as it did skills. Unlike South America’s earlier events, the Munich leg was a tighter, tenser battleground with a deeper field and high-level shooters in the fray. Olympic medalists, seasoned competitors, and rising stars — all were present, making Suruchi’s win even more commendable.
Earlier, Yao had topped the qualification round with 589. Suruchi was fifth with 580. The final, however, told a different story. Suruchi surged ahead early, firing a brilliant 52.1 in the first five shots. Although a pair of 9s momentarily dropped her to second, she regained the top spot with a 10.8 on her 12th shot. A 9.7 on her 16th again threatened her position, but she followed it up with a solid series of 10.7 and 10.5 to keep her nose ahead.
The real test came toward the end. Jedrzejewski, trailing by 0.5 points, landed a clutch 10.5 on her penultimate shot, putting pressure back on Suruchi. What followed was a stunning display of calm under fire. Suruchi fired a 9.5, just enough to avoid a shoot-off and seal the gold by a slender 0.2-point margin.
This hat-trick of World Cup golds caps a remarkable few months for Suruchi, who only made her senior debut earlier this year. From dominating the National Games to sweeping all three individual titles at the Nationals (senior, junior, and youth), she has built momentum with each performance. Her gold and silver finish in South America during her senior World Cup debut was already notable. With the Munich triumph, she now stands in a league of her own.
Coach Suresh Singh, speaking after the win, praised Suruchi’s ability to remain composed in pressure situations, noting that she tends to shoot her best when the stakes are highest. Yet, he acknowledged there’s room for growth, particularly in domestic competitions where Suruchi sometimes struggles with consistency.
The Munich final also featured India’s top names such as Manu Bhaker, who couldn’t make the final despite her status as a Paris Olympics medal hope. Asian Games medallist Palak Gulia finished 36th, and Simranpreet Kaur Brar came in at 51st. Sainyam, competing in RPO, made it to the final with a score of 580.
Suruchi will be back on the range again on Saturday, teaming up with Manu Bhaker for the mixed team event. As the Paris Olympics draw closer, this trio of young shooters — Suruchi, Manu, and Sainyam — is quickly becoming the heart of India’s shooting hopes.
