Suruchi Phogat Reflects on Rise Ahead of Asian Games 2026

Indian shooter Suruchi Inder Singh Phogat has reflected on her journey from travelling by local train to training in Bhiwani to becoming a junior world-record holder and multiple ISSF World Cup gold medallist ahead of the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The 20-year-old is among India’s prominent medal hopes for the Games after a run of results across the end of 2025 and the early part of 2026.

Phogat began shooting at the Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Bhiwani when she was 13. Coming from Sasroli village in Haryana’s Jhajjar district, she travelled to the academy with her father and brothers. At that point, she said, she had no Indian jersey and no established name in the sport.

“When I started shooting, nobody knew me. I was just a normal 13-year-old girl who didn’t even have an Indian jersey. Today, wearing that jersey is something I’m genuinely proud of. For me, it represents how far I have come,” Suruchi said.

From an unexpected start to international results

Shooting was not initially the sport Phogat expected to pursue. She said she found her way into it almost by circumstance, but has not looked back. The individual nature of the discipline, she said, gave her an opportunity to build her progress independently.

“I’m actually thankful that I came into shooting. If I had chosen another sport, especially a team sport, maybe I wouldn’t have reached this far. Shooting gave me the chance to build something on my own, and I’m happy with where that has taken me,” she said.

Phogat also outlined the mental demands she associates with the sport. While shooting can appear straightforward from outside the range, she said every shot requires control of thoughts, breathing and emotions.

“People look at shooting and think, ‘What is so difficult? You just have to stand and shoot.’ They don’t see what is happening inside you. Controlling your thoughts, your breathing and your emotions while every shot matters, that is the real challenge,” she said.

That approach has shaped the way Phogat assesses competitions that do not produce a medal. Rather than treating a non-medal finish as the sole outcome, she said she looks for errors in her technique or preparation and uses them to improve.

“A medal is not the only thing I take away from a competition. If I don’t win, I look for the mistake. Maybe my technique was wrong, maybe something was missing. I find it, learn from it and come back better. That is how I improve,” she said.

Phogat credited support from the National Rifle Association of India with helping her training and preparation. She said the coaches and camps have made her a more disciplined athlete, while the familiarity coaches have with athletes helps them understand what is needed at competitions.

World Cup form sets up Asian Games focus

Her recent results have provided the backdrop to her Asian Games build-up. Phogat ended the 2025 season by setting a junior world record at the ISSF World Cup Final in Doha. She then won mixed team silver with Samrat Rana at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship in New Delhi in 2026.

She followed that with a one-two finish alongside Esha Singh in the women’s 10m air pistol at the ISSF World Cup in Munich. The result also secured Phogat a direct place at this year’s World Cup Final in Rome.

With the Asian Games approaching, Phogat said she does not want to focus on projected results. Her target instead is to compete fully on every shot and leave the range knowing she gave everything in pursuit of a medal.

“At the Asian Games, I don’t want to think about what the result will be. I just want to fight for every shot, give my 100 per cent and leave the range knowing I gave everything I had for that medal,” she said.