After Manu Bhaker, India find new prospect in teenage top gun Suruchi Phogat
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NEW DELHI – After Manu Bhaker became the first Indian shooter to win two medals at the same Olympics in Paris last summer, the country seems to have unearthed a new talent in 19-year-old Suruchi Phogat, who won her third consecutive ISSF World Cup gold in Munich on June 13.
Phogat (241.9) edged out Paris Olympics 25m pistol silver medallist Camille Jedrzejewski (241.7) of France in a nail-biting finish of the 10m air pistol event to maintain her unbeaten streak this season. China’s Yao Qianxun won bronze with 221.7.
“I am happy but not surprised by my win. I think this is what we train for, to win gold medals,” Phogat said in the Times of India.
When asked if there was any pressure on her after the first two successful editions of the World Cup, she added: “Fortunately, I don’t take pressure of winning medals at all. I have people around me who try to keep me away from the pressure.
“All I do is train and focus on each shot as that will help me improve. I don’t think about the results.”
Phogat was trailing Jedrzejewski by 0.5 going into the final two shots and the Indian surged ahead with a tremendous 10.5, which proved decisive in the end.
She won back-to-back World Cup golds in Buenos Aires and Lima, edging out compatriot Bhaker in the final in Peru.
Phogat was also part of India’s 10 metre air pistol mixed team, who won the bronze in Buenos Aires and the gold in Lima. She now possesses an enviable record of making the podium in every World Cup event she has taken part in.
“This third successive gold medal is the toughest of all as it was a high-and-low final for me and taught me a lot of things,” Phogat told the Indian Express.
“Things did not work my way midway in the final. I guess my hands were a bit tired... I had to make some adjustments, and I’m glad to win this title.”
India’s chief pistol coach Samaresh Jung said Phogat would emerge mentally stronger from such an intense final.
“Shooters have to go through every phase, and it should have taught her a lot of things,” he told the same newspaper.
“It’s great. Good for Suruchi, and good for her confidence. Finals could have been better, but then things like this happen.
“In the second series, she had only one bad shot and stayed consistent with the other four, showing similar composure during the elimination shot.” REUTERS
