India’s shooting landscape has found a new beacon of promise in 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat, who clinched her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in a thrilling 10m air pistol final in Munich on Friday. With this victory, she continues her unbeaten streak in 2025, signaling the arrival of a formidable new force in Indian shooting.
A Nail-Biting Finish in Munich
Phogat delivered a spectacular performance, posting a score of 241.9 to narrowly edge out Camille Jedrzejewski of France (241.7), the Paris Olympics silver medallist. Trailing by 0.5 points heading into the final two shots, Phogat held her nerve, scoring a crucial 10.5 that turned the match in her favor. China’s Qianxun Yao took the bronze with 221.7.
“This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all,” Phogat told. “It was a high-and-low final for me. Things didn’t work my way midway. 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.”
A Consistent Podium Presence
Phogat’s 2025 season has been phenomenal. She previously won golds in Buenos Aires and Lima, even outperforming Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker in the Lima final. She also contributed to India’s mixed team performances, bagging a bronze in Buenos Aires and a gold in Lima in the 10m air pistol mixed team event.
What makes her rise even more impressive is her consistency—Phogat has made the podium in every World Cup she’s competed in so far.
Praise from Coaches and Experts
India’s chief pistol coach Samresh Jung praised the young shooter’s composure under pressure, saying, “Shooters have to go through every phase, and it should have taught her a lot of things. 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 that Phogat would emerge mentally stronger from this intense final, which tested her both physically and psychologically.
Carrying Forward India’s Legacy
Following in the footsteps of Manu Bhaker, who made history in Paris by becoming the first Indian shooter to win two medals in the same Olympics, Suruchi Phogat now represents the next generation of Indian shooting talent. With her fearless mindset, precision under pressure, and consistent results, she is positioning herself as a top contender for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India’s shooting future, it seems, is in confident, steady hands.
