Latest news with #Phogat
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
23-06-2025
- Sport
- First Post
'I was happy I won gold medal in Lima, not that I beat Manu Bhaker,' says teenage shooting sensation Suruchi Phogat
At just 19, India's Suruchi Phogat has emerged as a shooting prodigy. After winning the nationals, she became the first Indian shooter to claim three consecutive World Cup gold medals. In this interview, Suruchi talks about her rapid rise, beating Manu Bhaker and more. read more Prodigies are exceptional case studies, in any field. It's always so interesting to talk to and try to understand what is going on in the minds of people who take to something new like fish to water. It's like they were born to do just that. If you believe in destiny then you would say that 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat was born to be a shooting athlete. India is blessed with a number of teenage shooting prodigies, but Suruchi Phogat, in a very short period of time, has managed to carve out a very special niche for herself. And to think that she has just begun shooting at the senior international level, in World Cups. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Imagine being a Phogat in Haryana and going into sports. The obvious first choice is wrestling, right? It was the same with Suruchi. We all know about the celebrated Phogat sisters, who have made India proud on multiple global platforms. But it was another Indian wrestling hero – Virender Singh (who picked-up the nickname 'Goonga Pehelwan' and also had a documentary made on him, bearing the same name and has won 3 Deaflympics gold medals for India) who was the main wrestling inspiration_._ Virender is their neighbour in the village of Sasroli in the Jhajjar district of Haryana, and the one who inspired Suruchi's father, Inder Singh Phogat, to introduce his daughter to wrestling, at the age of 11. More from Sports Man City underline squad depth with 6-0 victory vs Al-Ain, reach FIFA Club World Cup knockout stage with Juventus But there was something else written in the stars for Suruchi. A painful collarbone injury saw the young girl being sidelined for almost a year. It was after that that Inder Singh Phogat decided to take his daughter to a shooting range. Suruchi was 13 at the time and despite being scared initially by the rather loud sounds of the guns going off, she realised this was the sport for her. In her own words – 'it is a fair sport'. And the rest, as they say, is history. In just about six years' time, since she first began training as a shooter, Suruchi has won multiple gold medals in the women's 10m Air Pistol event – in domestic as well as international events. Her rise has been nothing short of extraordinary, becoming the first Indian shooter to win three consecutive World Cup gold medals . This year, in the World Cups in Buenos Aires, Lima and Munich, Suruchi stood on the top of the podium in all three competitions, along with a gold (Lima World Cup) and a bronze (Buenos Aires World Cup) in the Mixed-Team 10m Air Pistol event. In Lima, in the women's event, she beat double Olympic medallist and Indian shooting's poster girl, Manu Bhaker, who finished second behind the 19-year-old. In the Munich World Cup, recently, Suruchi (while clinching the gold in the 10m Air Pistol event) beat 2024 Paris Olympics silver medallist in the women's 25m Air Pistol event, Camille Jedrzejewski of France. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Three Back to Back gold for India 🇮🇳 Suruchi Singh Phogat is Undefeated in 10m AP in 2025 What a talent she is at just 19 year old. — ई (@museofindia7) June 14, 2025 Suruchi is calm and composed and extremely consistent. She has been the standout shooter at the National level. She won the National Games gold in her pet event, as well as the selection trials, finishing on top in the qualification round, with a mind-boggling score of 586, beating the likes of Manu, Palak Gulia, who won the gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games and Olympian Esha Singh. She won gold medals in the youth, junior and senior categories at the National Championships in Delhi, in December last year. Suruchi in fact has been shooting 585 rather consistently. She shot that score in three straight senior competitions in India. In the Munich World Cup, she shot 588 in qualification. For a quick comparison (though this does not prove anything concrete) - at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the highest qualification score in the women's 10m Air Pistol event was 582, shot by Veronika Major of Hungary. Suruchi made her senior World Cup debut this year and in five World Cup event outings, so far, across individual and team events, she has five medals (four gold and one bronze). She has beaten the top Chinese shooters and has dominated seasoned shooters with almost effortless ease. There's a reason why every shooting expert in the country is talking about her. She is most definitely a natural. In fact, Suruchi's rise has been so meteoric, that most experts have been forced to compare her with Manu Bhaker and other top shooters in the 10m women's Air Pistol field. Ask Suruchi herself though and she says she was only happy to win the gold and it doesn't matter who she beat enroute to it. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suruchi's father, Inder Singh Phogat is an ex-Army Havildar and has instilled the quintessential armed forces' discipline and focussed routine in Suruchi. This 19-year-old is more mature than most kids her age. She likes to focus on only what she is doing and nothing else. Ask her about wanting to win an Olympic medal and pat comes the reply – 'abhi mera next goal mera next match hai, mein zyaada door ki nahin sochti hoon (right now my next goal is the next match I am going to play, I don't like to think very far ahead).' It wasn't surprising also to hear from her that she is unfazed by reputation and doesn't watch any other shooter's match or event. At a time when another young Indian shooter who wowed the world a few years back, before fading away, Saurabh Chaudhary is also making a very promising comeback, Suruchi's achievements are an assurance of sorts of a very promising future for Indian shooting. The women's pool of 10m and 25m pistol shooters is in itself a very competitive one, with the likes of Manu, Suruchi, Rhythm Sangwan, Palak Gulia, Rahi Sarnobat etc. competing against each other. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suruchi spoke to Firstpost in an exclusive interview – about her rise, how and why she doesn't feel pressure while she is at the firing point, beating Manu Bhaker at the Lima World Cup final, the role that her father and her coach – Mr. Suresh Singh, who was also Manu's first coach, has played in her career so far, how she is just focussed on what is coming up next and nothing else and much more. Suruchi Singh had also won gold at Buenos Aires and Lima legs of ISSF World Cup earlier. Suruchi Phogat is coached by ex-serviceman Suresh Singh. Image: @DeoKalikesh on X This young woman is not just talented and determined; she also has laser-sharp focus. Watch out for Suruchi Phogat. Someday, she could well rewrite Indian shooting history, much more than she already has. Excerpts of an exclusive interview with Suruchi…. You recently said in an interview that you don't feel pressure while competing. So, what do you feel? What goes on in your head when you are at the shooting point? Suruchi: When I compete, my mind is absolutely relaxed. There are no thoughts swirling around in my head about how I will do, whether I will shoot well or poorly, nothing. I stay completely free-minded. Some of it is natural and some of it is because of all the experience I have gathered so far from all the competitions that I have been to. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD You could have become a wrestler but instead chose shooting. How old were you when you decided to shift to shooting and what made you make that decision? Suruchi: I was 13 years old when I thought that I should become a shooter. My father took me to a shooting range and I liked the sport. I saw what was an individual and a fair sport. So, I decided to pursue a career in sports shooting and began my training from there on, at the age of 13. You began training as a shooter at the age of 13 at the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Bhiwani under coach Suresh Singh. I read that you would travel 100km a day by train. What do you remember about those days and how do you feel when you look at the World Cup medals you have won so far and think about those days at the Bhiwani Academy… STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suruchi: When I think back to those days, I feel very happy. I feel satisfied about the hard work that I have put in and the fact that it's because of that hard work that I am getting the results that I am managing to secure these days. Were you 100% sure from the very beginning that you wanted to be a pistol shooter, or did you maybe consider rifle or shotgun? Suruchi: No, I always, from the very beginning, wanted to be a pistol shooter. I saw the rifles that are used in the sport for rifle shooting events also, but I thought the rifles were heavy and the overall equipment etc rather cumbersome. So, I knew that pistol shooting is what would suit me the most. Every single World Cup you have participated in, you have been on the podium. 4 golds and a bronze this year in World Cups alone. You say you don't feel pressure, but surely a global competition must feel different to you than say shooting at the Nationals? Almost every athlete feels that. What goes on in your head when you are, say, at a World Cup event vis-à-vis a domestic competition? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Suruchi: No, I really don't feel there is anything different between a domestic competition and a World Cup event. The shooting ranges of course are different at the World Cups, but we do get time and opportunity to train at these ranges before the competition, so we get used to these ranges also and nothing seems very different, as such. Suruchi Phogat and Saurabh Chaudhary won the 10m air pistol mixed team gold medal at the Lima ISSF World Cup. Image: ISSF Official on X You are the first Indian shooter to win three consecutive World Cup gold medals. So far in your career, which competition has been the toughest for you and why? Suruchi: Tough or not tough is all in the head. I honestly haven't felt like the competition has been too tough, anywhere, so far. I can't recall any event where I felt like the competition was too tough. I have never thought that the competition is so tough, in any event so far, that I am under pressure. In the Munich World Cup recently, you beat the Paris Olympics silver medallist Camille in the 10m Air Pistol final, enroute to the gold. Are you also unfazed by big names around you? Do you think about reputations etc or don't pay any attention to things like that at all? Suruchi: Firstly, I never know anything, as such, about any other shooter at a competition, because I don't think about anything or anybody else except my own preparation and execution. I don't watch any other shooter's event or finals. And even if I find out something about a certain shooter's achievements or accomplishments after being introduced to them etc., their reputation doesn't make any difference to me or my game, because I can only control what is in my hands, which is my own game, nothing else. The other shooters will focus on their game, I will focus on mine. I just want to stay focused on my own target and my goals, absolutely nothing else. Talking about reputations, you beat Manu Bhaker in the Lima World Cup final. Not surprisingly there have already been quite a few comparisons between you and Manu. Your take on beating the only Indian athlete to win two medals in a single Olympic edition since 1900? Did you feel anything extra special, because you managed to beat Manu in that final? Suruchi: No, not at all. I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary because Manu was also in that final, which I won. I was happy about the fact that I had won the gold medal, not that I beat Manu Bhaker. You are only 19 years old. It's safe to say that you are a natural talent. But there must be facets of your game that you would want to work on, to improve further? Suruchi: Yes, there are definitely some facets of my overall game which I need to work on further. There are some weaknesses in my game. Which is why when it comes to training, these are the aspects that I want to focus on the most and put in the most amount of hard work into, so that I can iron out the chinks in my armour. Suruchi Phogat defeated Manu Bhaker at Lima World Cup to win 10m gold. Images: PTI You won gold medals across senior, junior and youth categories at the National Championships in December-January, then won the gold at the National Games in February, beating Asian Games champion Palak Gulia and the experienced Rahi Sarnobat. Now you have three individual World Cup gold medals in one year already. How do you rate yourself in terms of improvement and your progression when you look at your short but very successful journey, so far? Suruchi: I have definitely improved. No one really does very well right at the beginning, when they first start training. But I have improved and progressed quite a bit, quite fast, thanks to my parents and my coach. I have always put in a lot of hard work, but I have had their support and guidance always and that has been priceless. All the credit for where I am today goes to my mother, my father and my coach, Mr. Suresh Singh, who has trained me from the time I began my shooting journey, at the age of 13. Talk to me a little bit about Mr. Suresh Singh and his style of coaching. He has been your coach from the time you began shooting. He is your guru. He was also Manu's first coach… Suruchi: Suresh sir is an ex-Army man. He is a straight talker. Conversations with him are simple, natural and completely straightforward. There are no long-winded, convoluted conversations or instructions that come from him, ever. And I really like that about him. Your father is also an ex-Army man. I am assuming it would be fair to say that the guidance, the advice, and also the love and affection that you get from your father is also completely straightforward and uncomplicated? Suruchi: Yes, absolutely. And this facet of my father's personality has played a big role in my career so far. What is your take on the incredible talent pool in Indian women's pistol shooting - in the 10m and 25m events, currently? There's Palak, Esha Singh, Rhythm Sangwan, you and of course Manu. It's a strong pool and the competition is also fierce, you would say? Suruchi: Yes, that is absolutely correct. The women's competition in these two events in India is quite fierce and the Indian team therefore, is a very strong one. Indian female shooters are winning medals at the Olympics, the Asian Games etc. This is a correct assessment. There is a lot of healthy competition amongst all of us and we give each other mental strength as well. Have you and Manu talked a lot about shooting and other things? Do you have many conversations when you are competing together? Suruchi: No, we don't usually have any conversations, as such. Both of us focus on our individual games. Olympics are coming up again in 2028 in Los Angeles. You will be 22 at that time. But if the next Olympics were next year, would you say you are at a level where you could win an Olympic medal? Suruchi: I am not thinking about that. Right now, my next goal is the next competition I will be participating in, the next match I am going to play. I don't think too far ahead. Whatever lies next for me is my next target, my next goal, nothing else. Tell me about the support that you have been getting from the federation – the NRAI. Are you fully satisfied with that? Suruchi: The support from the NRAI has been very good. They send us for international competitions, they have ensured that the coaches for the National team are top-quality coaches, who give us great guidance and training at the National camps.
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
After Manu Bhaker, India find new prospect in teenage top gun Suruchi Phogat
– After Manu Bhaker became the first Indian shooter to win two medals at the same Olympics in Paris last summer, the country seems to have unearthed a new talent in 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat, who won her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich on June 13. Phogat (241.9) edged out Paris Olympics 25m pistol silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski (241.7) of France in a nail-biting finish of the 10m air pistol event to maintain her unbeaten streak this season. China's Yao Qianxun won bronze with 221.7. 'I am happy but not surprised by my win. I think this is what we train for, to win gold medals,' Phogat said in the Times of India. When asked if there was any pressure on her after the first two successful editions of the World Cup, she added: 'Fortunately, I don't take pressure of winning medals at all. I have people around me who try to keep me away from the pressure. 'All I do is train and focus on each shot as that will help me improve. I don't think about the results.' Phogat was trailing Jedrzejewski by 0.5 going into the final two shots and the Indian surged ahead with a tremendous 10.5, which proved decisive in the end. She won back-to-back World Cup golds in Buenos Aires and Lima, edging out compatriot Bhaker in the final in Peru. Phogat was also part of India's 10 metre air pistol mixed team, who won the bronze in Buenos Aires and the gold in Lima. She now possesses an enviable record of making the podium in every World Cup event she has taken part in. 'This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all as it was a high-and-low final for me and taught me a lot of things,' Phogat told the Indian Express. 'Things did not work my way midway in the final. I guess my hands were a bit tired... I had to make some adjustments, and I'm glad to win this title.' India's chief pistol coach Samaresh Jung said Phogat would emerge mentally stronger from such an intense final. 'Shooters have to go through every phase, and it should have taught her a lot of things,' he told the same newspaper. 'It's great. Good for Suruchi, and good for her confidence. Finals could have been better, but then things like this happen. 'In the second series, she had only one bad shot and stayed consistent with the other four, showing similar composure during the elimination shot.' REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Meet Suruchi Phogat, the 19-year-old shooter emerging as India's new hope
Suruchi Phogat, a 19-year-old Indian shooter, secured her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich, triumphing over France's Camille Jedrzejewski in the 10m air pistol event. Phogat's impressive 10.5 score on her penultimate shot sealed the victory, adding to her previous wins in Buenos Aires and Lima. This win establishes her as a rising star in Indian shooting. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads After Manu Bhaker made headlines by becoming the first Indian shooter to win two Olympics medals in Paris last year, the country has found a new top gun in 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat Phogat secured her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in the 10m air pistol event in Munich on Friday, narrowly beating Paris Olympics silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski (241.9-241.7).China's Qianxun Yao finished with the bronze (221.7).Phogat was trailing by 0.5 going into the final two shots but surged forward with a decisive 10.5 to win. She previously secured back-to-back golds in Buenos Aires and Lima, edging out compatriot Manu Bhaker in the Peru was also a key part of India's 10m air pistol mixed team, which won a bronze in Buenos Aires and a gold in Lima. She has maintained a remarkable record of making the podium in every World Cup event she has entered."This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all as it was a high-and-low final for me and taught me a lot of things," Phogat told the Indian Express. "Things did not work my way midway in the final. I guess my hands were a bit tired... I had to make some adjustments and I'm glad to win this title here in Munich."India's chief pistol coach Samresh Jung said Phogat's tough final will help her grow mentally. "Shooters have to go through every phase and it should have taught her a lot of things," Jung told the Indian Express."In the second series, she only had one bad shot and did not drop much in terms of other four shots and the same with the elimination shot," Jung added.
Straits Times
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Shooting-After Bhaker, India find new prospect in teenaged top gun Phogat
NEW DELHI - After Manu Bhaker became the first Indian shooter to win two medals at the same Olympics in Paris last year, the country seems to have unearthed a new talent in 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat, who won her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich on Friday. Phogat (241.9) edged out Paris Olympics silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski (241.7) of France in a nail-biting finish of the 10m air pistol event to maintain her unbeaten streak this season. China's Qianxun Yao won bronze with 221.7. Phogat was trailing Jedrzejewski by 0.5 going into the final two shots and the Indian surged ahead with a tremendous 10.5, which proved decisive in the end. She won back-to-back World Cup golds in Buenos Aires and Lima, edging out compatriot Bhaker in the final in Peru. Phogat was also part of India's 10 metre air pistol mixed team, which won the bronze in Buenos Aires and the gold in Lima. She now possesses an enviable record of making the podium in every World Cup event she has taken part in. "This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all as it was a high-and-low final for me and taught me a lot of things," Phogat told the Indian Express. "Things did not work my way midway in the final. I guess my hands were a bit tired... "I had to make some adjustments and I'm glad to win this title here in Munich." India's chief pistol coach Samresh Jung said Phogat would emerge mentally stronger from such an intense final. "Shooters have to go through every phase and it should have taught her a lot of things," Jung told the same newspaper. "In the second series, she only had one bad shot and did not drop much in terms of other four shots and the same with the elimination shot." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Indian Express
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Indian Express
With Munich gold, Suruchi Phogat announces intent to dominate 10 m air pistol
During her commentary stint at the women's 10m air pistol final in the ISSF Munich World Cup, Paris Olympics double bronze medallist Manu Bhaker talked about how reputations of competitors didn't faze her. Manu said she did not know about any of the 'big' names in pistol events in her debut senior World Cup in Mexico in 2018, where she won gold in a field including 2016 Olympic 25m Pistol champion and 10m air pistol bronze medallist Anna Korakaki of Greece. But Bhaker declared that the name 'Suruchi Phogat' would not be easy to forget. While Bhaker's compatriot had edged her out for a gold at the Lima World Cup, Phogat won her third successive ISSF World Cup title in a final field consisting of Paris Olympics 25m pistol silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski of France and three Chinese shooters including Tokyo Olympics mixed team gold medallist and individual bronze medallist Jiang Ranxin. Behind the mic, Bhaker would shower praise on the 19-year-old's resolve. Even though, Phogat's scores dipped into high 9s at the fag end of the final, the Haryana shooter would push Jedrzejewski to the second spot in the last elimination shot to win her third successive gold medal. 'I only got to know about Camille Jedrzejewski being an Olympic medallist when her name was announced. This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all as it was a high and low final for me and taught me a lot of things. Things did not work my way midway in the final. I guess my hands were a bit tired and shots were going bad. But then I had to make some trigger adjustments and I am glad to win this title here at Munich,' shared the youngster from Sisroli village in Jhajjar district while speaking with The Indian Express. If her first senior World Cup title came in the presence of Ranxin, she won gold at Munich, the biggest event, by edging out another Chinese, Wei Qian. Phogat's second World Cup title at Lima had come with her edging out Bhaker for the gold. On Thursday, the youngster who had qualified at the second spot with a score of 588 in qualification, shot a first series of 52.1 to build a 2.2 point lead over the second placed Jedrzejewski. But with her seventh shot of the final coming as a 9.0, Phogat would see herself shifting between the top place and the second and third and occasionally fourth place over the next few shots. While others too struggled with their shots, Phogat had seven scores of 10 or above including a 10.8 and a 10.7, and seven shots below ten in the two-shot elimination series including the gold medal elimination series. 'Suruchi shoots fast in the final and never takes pressure of the first series. And the lead of 2.2 after the first series helped her in the end. I guess she delayed some shots a bit but then she never went into the lower 8s. During practice, we often practice different tasks like low score situations after first series high scores and I am glad she could win the gold in Munich,' says coach Suresh Singh, her personal coach. Across three finals, Phogat shot 29 times above ten and only two below 9.5 and no shots below 9. With Yao being eliminated for the bronze medal, Phogat was trailing Jedrzejewski by 0.5 point. A 10.5 by Phogat was followed by 9.5 from Jedrzejewski. Having a slim lead of 0.5 points, Phogat would shoot a last shot of 9.5 before Jedrzejewski shot a 9.8 handing the Indian her third gold. Indian chief pistol coach Samresh Jung told The Indian Express, 'It's great. Good for Suruchi and good for her confidence. Finals could have been better but then things like this happen. Shooters have to go through every phase and it would have taught her a lot of things. Second series, she only had one bad shot and did not drop much in terms of other four shots and the same with the elimination shots.' The Haryana youngster would also become the first Indian shooter to win three consecutive World Cup gold medals. Earlier this week, Chinese shooters Wang Zifei, Hu Kai and Sun Yujie won their third successive World Cup titles in women's 10m air rifle, men's 10m air pistol and women's 25m Pistol events respectively. Phogat did not watch those finals where the Chinese triumphed but would joke with pistol coach Jay Wardhan Singh Chouhan about the three Chinese being 'scared.' 'We could see the Chinese were discussing Suruchi. Thoda darre toh honge. The way Sun Yujie has dominated the 25m pistol this year, Suruchi has done the same in the 10m air pistol,' said national coach, Chouhan.
