Sometimes, the path chosen by parents is not the path their children ultimately follow. For 20-year-old shooter Suruchi Singh, that difference turned into a remarkable sporting journey.

Her father, Inder Singh, wanted his daughter to take up wrestling, a sport deeply rooted in Haryana. But Suruchi had fallen in love with shooting. She followed her own passion, worked through difficult circumstances and eventually reached the biggest stage in Asian sport.

On September 25, 2026, Suruchi and her teammate Kamaljeet won gold in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, giving India its second gold medal of the Games.

A Golden Ending After a Disappointing Start

The gold medal became even more special because Suruchi's individual event had not gone as planned.

She had failed to reach the individual final, leaving the mixed team competition as her final opportunity to finish her Asian Games campaign with a medal.

Suruchi and Kamaljeet made the most of that opportunity.

The Indian pair topped the qualification round with 587 points and carried that momentum into the final. They eventually finished with 484.6 points to claim the gold medal, finishing ahead of South Korea, while Iran took bronze.

For Suruchi, it was a remarkable turnaround after the disappointment of the individual competition.

Her Father Wanted Her to Become a Wrestler

Suruchi comes from Jhajjar in Haryana, a region where wrestling has a strong sporting culture.

Her father, Inder Singh, is associated with the Haryana Police and initially wanted his daughter to pursue wrestling. There was also a family connection to the sport, with one of his cousins having achieved success as a wrestler.

But Suruchi discovered a different passion.

Instead of stepping onto the wrestling mat, she wanted to pick up a pistol and learn the art of competitive shooting.

At just 13 years old, she began training at a shooting academy in Bhiwani.

That decision eventually changed the course of her life.

The Pandemic Could Not Stop Her

Just as Suruchi's shooting career was beginning to develop, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted sporting activities across the country.

Shooting ranges were closed and regular training became difficult.

But Suruchi refused to let the situation bring her progress to a halt. She continued practising at a temporary shooting range arranged at her home in Jhajjar.

For a young athlete, maintaining discipline without the normal facilities and competitive environment was a major challenge.

Yet she continued working on her technique and gradually began making a name for herself.

From a Young Shooter to an International Champion

Suruchi's rise accelerated in 2025, when she began making a significant impact on the senior international shooting circuit.

She went on to win major international medals and established herself as one of India's promising 10m air pistol shooters.

Her performances gave her confidence that she could compete against some of the biggest names in the sport.

And then came the Asian Games.

The Final Opportunity Became Her Golden Moment

After missing out on an individual medal, Suruchi had just one more opportunity.

The mixed team event.

Together with Kamaljeet, she produced a strong performance from the qualification stage itself. The pair finished at the top with 587 points and entered the final with confidence.

In the final, they maintained their lead under pressure and finished with 484.6 points.

Gold was theirs.

What had begun as a difficult Asian Games campaign ended with Suruchi standing on top of the podium.

She Chose Her Own Path

Suruchi's story is not simply about choosing shooting over wrestling.

It is about discovering what you are passionate about and having the courage to pursue it.

Her father had one sporting dream for her. Suruchi had another.

Today, that decision has taken her from a shooting academy in Bhiwani to the Asian Games podium in Japan.

Her gold medal is a reminder that sometimes the path we choose for ourselves can lead somewhere completely unexpected.

And for Suruchi Singh, the decision to follow her passion has now brought her an Asian Games gold medal for India.