Shooting World Cup: Suruchi Combines With Saurabh To Win Mixed Team Pistol Gold After Individual Glory

It was double delight for Suruchi Inder Singh as the teenaged Indian shooter combined with Saurabh Chaudhary to win the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal in the ISSF World Cup in Lima on Wednesday, adding to her triumph in the individual competition. (More Sports News)

The duo of Suruchi and Saurabh shot 17 to finish ahead of China's Qianxun Yao and Kai Hu, who managed 9, in the gold medal match..

In the bronze medal contest, India's Manu Bhakar and Ravinder Singh (6) missed out on a podium finish after losing to Chines pair of Qianke Ma and Yifan Zhang (16).

The duo of Suruchi and Saurabh made the gold medal match at the Las Palmas range with a combined 580 in qualification, with the former outscoring her more experienced partner by a couple of points. The Chinese pair of Yao Qianxun and Hu Ka topped the qualification with 585.

In the decider as well, the Chinese pair got a head-start, running off to a 2-6 and 4-8 advantage, before a time out called by coach Samaresh Jung brought a change in the momentum of the match.

Suruchi shot splendidly throughout and the couple of times she missed the 10-ring, her Tokyo Olympian partner made up with high 10s, including a 10.9 for his first hit of the match.

The pair regained the lead they had lost after the first series of single shots, in the 10th series, going ahead 11-9 after a tied eighth series had levelled the scores at 9-9. They did not look back thereafter and needed just the next three series to wrap up the win as the Chinese misfired first under pressure.

They did it in style too, closing out with 10.6 (Suruchi) and 10.5 (Saurabh) with both the Chinese failing to hit the 10-ring.

Earlier on Tuesday, Suruchi produced a sterling performance in the 10m air pistol event to clinch her second consecutive ISSF World Cup gold, while Paris Olympics medallist Manu Bhaker bagged the silver to ensure India's domination in the competition.

The Jhajjar-based Suruchi, 18, who had won her maiden World Cup gold in the season's inaugural global event recently, tallied 243.6 in the 24-shot final, to leave Manu 1.3 points behind her. China's Yao Qianxun took the bronze.

Suruchi and Manu's podium finish meant that India collected one medal of each colour on the day, with men's 10m air pistol marksman Saurabh Chaudhary earlier winning a bronze.

India's exploits in the women's 10m air pistol competition in the Peruvian capital has taken the country to the top of the standings with three medals, followed by China, which has won the men's air pistol gold.

There were clear indications during the 60-shot qualification round that the Indian duo would comfortably make it to the finals from a 28-strong field. Suruchi took the second spot with a regulation 582, while Manu was fourth with 578.

Sainyam, the third Indian in the fray, was 11th with 571.

Suruchi was at a different level in the final, carrying on her superb form in the last few months to quickly move to second after the first series of five shots.

Yao had taken an early lead and Manu was fourth with Uruguay's Julieta Jimenez, who shot a good final, in third at that stage.

After the second five-shot series, Yao had compatriot Meng Yufei breathing down her neck, just 0.1 behind, while Suruchi moved down to third with Manu holding on to her fourth position.

The Indians, Suruchi in particular, then came into their elements as Meng had a meltdown of sorts. A couple of high 10s ensured that after the 13th single shot, it was an Indian 1-2 with the Chinese falling out of the top-two contention.

Manu then had a couple of mid to low 9s for her 16th and 17th shots, which probably cost her the gold in the end. Suruchi emerged as the more consistent shooter on the day.

Yao then had a good run and dethroned Julieta for bronze, but with the final two shots left, it was Suruchi who was ahead of Manu by 0.7 points.

The teenager scored better on the last two shots to beat the more experienced Manu and extend a sensational run of form, which began with the nationals in December last year.

Manu, winner of women's air pistol and mixed team bronze medals at the Paris Games said, said she was happy with the progress of Indian shooters and also congratulated Suruchi on her second World Cup gold.

"I am happy to see more Indian shooters coming up and doing very well, especially at the international stage. It makes me really happy and I feel India is going in the right direction.

"We all are familiar with Suruchi's name. She did exceptionally well in Buenos Aires (World Cup) as well as here. So, I am really happy for her and I hope that this continues for a long time. And, along with the youngsters, I hope that I also keep the pace up," added Manu.

Suruchi had also won the 10m air pistol mixed team bronze with Saurabh in Buenos Aires. PTI AM PM AH KHS