Asian Games 2026: Suruchi Singh-Kamaljeet wins the 10m air pistol mixed team title, which is India’s first shooting gold.

On Friday, Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet won the 10m air pistol mixed team title, giving India their first gold medal in shooting at the Asian Games 2026.

In the final at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery, the Indian pair shot an Asian record 484.6 to defeat the Republic of Korea, who came in second with 478.0. Iran’s Islamic Republic won bronze with a score of 415.8. In the 10m air pistol mixed team competition, it was India’s first Asian Games gold medal, surpassing the silver that Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS had won in Hangzhou in 2023.

“It’s wonderful that India’s first gold medal in shooting has come from me,” said Suruchi, who is competing in her maiden Asian Games. “We were so determined to win the gold. There have been so many silvers and bronze, but we weren’t getting gold. I was wondering why?

“Then I thought, ‘it’s waiting for me, I will have to bring the gold’. And I have!” Prior to this, Suruchi Singh and Kamaljeet had won qualification with a score of 587-29x, matching the Asian record and creating a new one for the Asian Games. Sarabjot Singh and Divya TS’s previous Asian Games qualifying score of 577 in Hangzhou was surpassed by their score.

Additionally, the 587 equaled the Asian record achieved in the 2021 ISSF World Cup in Osijek by Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary. In the final, Suruchi and Kamaljeet maintained that performance, starting with a strong 103.0 to give themselves a 4.9-point lead over South Korea.

After a challenging start to India’s 10m air pistol campaign, the Indian pair made a dramatic comeback by winning by 6.6 points after continuing to gain ground during the elimination stage. Suruchi placed 26th in the women’s competition, while Kamaljeet finished ninth in the men’s solo qualifier and almost missed the final. The 10-meter air pistol teams from India, both men’s and women’s, likewise placed fourth.

Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, Niraj Kumar, and Rudrankksh Patil teamed for 1762 to win silver in the men’s 50m rifle three positions team event on Friday, giving India another medal. South Korea earned bronze, while the People’s Republic of China won gold with 1766. Aishwary finished third in qualification, leading the three Indians with a score of 589-34x. Rudrankksh finished ninth with a score of 585-26x, while Niraj finished fourth with 588-34x.

Both Aishwary and Niraj advanced to the eight-man medal round, however they were unable to win an individual medal. Niraj came in ninth with 299.0, and Aishwary came in fifth with 327.6. Aishwary returned from the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou with four medals, making him one of India’s most successful shooters. In addition to individual bronze in the 10m air rifle and silver in the 50m rifle 3 positions, he earned gold in the men’s 10m air rifle and 50m rifle 3 positions team competitions.

The Indian women’s hockey team defeated hosts Japan 3-1 in their penultimate Pool B match at the Gifu Prefectural Green Stadium on Friday, securing their place in the Asian Games 2026 semifinals. India’s goals came from Lalremsiami Hmarzote (5′), Ishika Chaudhary (30′), and Navneet Kaur (36′), whereas the home team’s goal came from Shiho Kobayakawa (46′).

India, which defeated Japan to earn the bronze medal in Hangzhou 2023, presently leads Pool B with 12 points after winning all four group games thus far. They are guarantyd a top-two finish and, thus, a spot in the semifinals.

Japan is presently ranked second in the Asian Games 2026 hockey women’s Pool B rankings with nine points from four. Thailand, who play Indonesia later on Friday, may also achieve 12 points if they win their remaining games, but only one of them can match India’s total because they play Japan in their final group match.

Following round robin games, the top two teams from each of the two groups advance to the semifinals. In the first few minutes of the game, India’s persistent probing of the Japanese circle paid reward. After the Japanese goalkeeper had made a strong save to deny Navneet Kaur, Lalremsiami was in the right spot at the right moment to tap the ball inside the net.

Japan had a fantastic chance to tie the score around the halfway point of the first quarter, but Savita Punia smacked away Maho Ueno’s penalty corner. Interestingly, Japan, ranked 11th in the world, appeared to be the more likely team to score over the rest of the game. With a 1-0 advantage at the end of the quarter, India, ranked seventh in the world, weathered the storm.

India’s attacking momentum returned in the second quarter. Four minutes in, Lalremsiami nearly doubled her score, but Japanese defenders stopped her attempt. For the rest of the game, India continued to strive for the crucial second goal, and in the last seconds, they were rewarded.

Navneet was initially denied at a penalty corner, but Ishika Chaudhary scored, giving India a 2-0 lead at half-time. Navneet finally scored in the third quarter after several attempts, showcasing impressive stickwork. Despite a near miss for a third goal, a strong save by Japanese goalie Yu Kudo kept the score at 2-0.

Japan scored early in the fourth quarter through Shiho Kobayakawa, leading to a tense finish, but India maintained their lead for the win. The Indian women’s hockey team will play Singapore next in the Asian Games Pool B match, with the tournament also serving as a qualifier for the LA 2028 Olympics.