Suruchi Wins Second World Cup Gold, Manu Bags Silver

Jhajjar girls bring double podium in Lima as Suruchi wins back-to-back world cup gold, Manu bags silver.

India Tops the Medal Tally for the Day

Thanks to the podium finishes by Suruchi and Manu, India bagged a medal of each color on the day. Earlier, Saurabh Chaudhary secured a bronze in men’s 10m air pistol, completing the medal sweep.

India now leads the overall standings in Lima with three medals, ahead of China, which clinched gold in the men’s air pistol event.

Smooth Qualification and Stellar Final

Both Suruchi and Manu showed early signs of form during the 60-shot qualification round. Suruchi scored 582, taking the second spot, while Manu followed in fourth place with 578. The third Indian shooter, Sainyam, placed 11th with 571, missing out on the finals.

In the final, Suruchi quickly climbed to second place after the first five shots, showing remarkable consistency. Although Yao took an early lead and Manu stayed in fourth, the competition began to shift in India’s favor.

By the end of the second series, Meng Yufei of China briefly challenged the leaders. However, Suruchi and Manu began to find their rhythm, with Suruchi pulling ahead. A string of high 10s placed the two Indians in the top two positions after the 13th shot, knocking the Chinese shooters out of contention.

Suruchi’s Composure Seals the Gold

Manu hit a rough patch with a couple of low 9s on her 16th and 17th shots, which ultimately cost her the gold. Suruchi, on the other hand, stayed consistent and confident.

Yao came back to claim bronze from Julieta Jimenez of Uruguay. But with only two shots left, Suruchi maintained a 0.7-point lead over Manu. She scored better in the closing shots, sealing the win and continuing her impressive streak, which began at the National Championships in December.

Manu Praises Rising Talent

Reflecting on the result, Manu Bhaker, who had previously won two medals at the Paris Olympics, praised the young talent. “I’m happy to see more Indian shooters performing well on the international stage. It’s a great sign for the future,” she said.

She added, “We all know Suruchi’s name now. She performed brilliantly in Buenos Aires and again here. I’m really happy for her and hope this form continues. I also hope to keep pace with the upcoming talent.”

Notably, Suruchi had earlier won the mixed team bronze with Saurabh Chaudhary at the Buenos Aires World Cup.

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