Shooting Nationals: Teenager Suruchi wins triple crown in 10m pistol

Haryana teenager Suruchi won three gold medals on women’s air pistol day of the ongoing 67th National Shooting Championship Competitions (NSCC) at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi, 

The daughter of an army veteran from Jhajjar, Suruchi began shooting five years ago in the same range as double Olympic bronze medallist Manu Bhaker. She won her first-ever senior national title, with a score of 243.1 in the women’s 10m air pistol final, before going on to add the junior and youth crowns for a memorable nationals outing.

In the process, she bettered the silver medal-winning effort in the women’s air pistol event, achieved in the previous nationals.

Suruchi went into the eight-woman final as the in-form shooter, topping the qualification round with a solid 585.

It was a field full of seasoned pros, among them Olympian Rhythm Sangwan, reigning Asian Games champion Palak, India international Divya T.S. and junior world champion Sainyam to name a few.

The Haryana girl, however, shot confidently throughout the 24-shot final staying in contention from shot one.

She grew stronger as eliminations began after the 12th shot, firing just three mid to high 9s in the last 12 to leave state mate Rhythm a huge 5.7 behind in the second. Krushnali Rajput of Maharashtra was third.

Although Chandigarh’s Sainyam gave her a tougher fight in the junior final, she still left her 3.4 behind to clinch that with 245.1.

Her most brutal win was in the youth final. However, her score of 245.5 helped her win the gold medal ahead of Sanskriti Bana of Uttar Pradesh. Palak won bronze.

The star of the day said after her matches, “It is certainly a most memorable day. It was my first senior national title and to win three golds in a day is really special. Shooting, shooting and only shooting is what is in my minds in the days to come.”