‘This is just the beginning’: Suruchi Phogat pips Manu Bhaker for gold at ISSF World Cup

“Gold medal jeetne ka shauk hai aur hamesha apne ko behtar karne ki koshish rehti hai (I like winning gold medals and every time I shoot, my goal is to better myself). I have no competition with anybody but with myself. And that has been my belief right from the day I started shooting. Abhi toh bas shuruaat hai yeh World Cup gold medals ki (This is just the beginning of World Cup gold medals). If I am able to convert what I do in practice to good results in finals, then the journey to the Olympic gold too will be easy,” said the shooter while speaking with The Indian Express.

Tuesday saw both the Indians qualify for the final, one that included the likes of Qianxun Yao of China, Julieta Jiminez of Uruguay, Yufei Meng of China, and Filipa Marracho of Portugal. Bhaker, who had finished 13th in Buenos Aires, shot 578 to qualify sixth with Phogat shooting a score of 582 to be placed third.

“It was a bit dark in comparison to the qualifying range here in the finals. Of course, sometimes things are not in our control but then I believe these are for everybody and I try to make my mind clear and khule dimag se shoot karun (and to shoot with a free mind),” added Phogat.

At the end of the first series, Phogat’s score of 50.5 saw her placed at the second spot with the gap between her and Yao being 0.7 points. At the end of the second series, she would slip to the third spot with a series score of 50.8 and overall score of 101.3. It also meant that Phogat, who was fourth after the first couple of series’ in Buenos Aires, had to make sure that she maintained her composure in the two shot elimination rounds.

Suruchi Phogat after winning gold at the women’s10m air pistol final in Lima. (ISSF)

“Lead pakadni hoti hai jab bhi aaye (I want to be in the lead no matter whenever it comes). That’s my mindset. In my mind, I don’t see the starting series or elimination shots differently. Shot hi toh chalane hain (One has to shoot shots),” said Phogat. Coach Suresh Singh too weighed in on his ward’s ability to not get too far behind before the elimination series starts. “She used to hold her shots earlier but then making her dry shoot along with holding the pistol for long made her adapt to shoot each shot in 18-20 seconds,” said Singh.

Phogat would then go on to shoot six shots of 10.3 or more out of the 12 shots from the elimination stage to the gold medal elimination round. Bhaker, placed fourth after the second series, would shoot eight shots of 10.3 or more including two shots of 10.9 in those 12 shots making her climb to the silver medal position.

“Good to see that Manu handled the ups and downs well in the final. If we don’t face such situations, how will we learn? Manu shoots with the philosophy that it does not matter whether she is behind or leads, it’s about shot by shot and she knows she can always catch up in air pistol. Whether you shoot 10.9 also, you have to make sure that the next shot does not make you slip behind and that’s what she displayed today,” said national coach Jaspal Rana.

Manu Bhaker in action during ISSF World Cup. (ISSF)

Bhaker too would talk about her making a comeback in the final. “My performance, especially in the final, was better this time. I have improved a lot in the final though qualification could have been better,” said Bhaker to ISSF after her match.

Bhaker was also seen clapping for Phogat post the medal ceremony. The 23-year-old, when asked about her being the ‘senior’ shooter in comparison to India’s latest World Cup gold medallist, was eulogistic in Phogat’s praise.

“I am happy to see more Indian shooters doing very well especially with all the youngsters coming up. We all are familiar with Suruchi’s name and she did exceptionally well in Buenos Aires as well as here. Along with youngsters, I am also keeping pace and trying to do better each time,” said Bhaker.