The Indian duo produced a strong performance to claim the top spot in the event, giving India a much-needed shooting gold after both athletes had endured disappointing outings in their respective individual competitions.

For Kamaljeet, the victory was particularly significant. He had narrowly missed out on qualification for the men’s 10m air pistol individual final after finishing ninth in the qualification round. The setback left him disappointed, but an opportunity to compete in the mixed team event offered him a chance to immediately bounce back.

Speaking to NDTV after the victory, Kamaljeet opened up about the emotional impact of his individual result, his late inclusion in the mixed team and the career uncertainty he had been facing before winning the Asian Games gold.

Kamaljeet gets second chance after individual setback

Kamaljeet’s individual campaign ended just short of the final. He finished ninth in the men’s 10m air pistol qualification and missed the final by one point.

The result was difficult for the Indian shooter, who said he was emotionally affected by the disappointment. However, his coach soon informed him that he would also compete in the mixed team event.

That news changed his mindset and gave him another opportunity to fight for a medal.

"When I lost the individual event by just one point and failed to qualify for the final, I was full of disappointment and emotionally hurt. But coach sir informed me that I would also be participating in the mixed team event," Kamaljeet said.

"That gave me hope and confidence, and my mindset became very clear: I had to give 100 per cent in the mixed event and not miss the opportunity to win a medal. As a result, we ended up winning gold," he added.

The shooter said the last-minute opportunity did not mean he was unprepared. According to Kamaljeet, athletes are expected to remain ready for different competitions, particularly because of the demands associated with individual events.

Last-minute inclusion proves crucial

Kamaljeet also discussed being drafted into the mixed team at the last moment.

Rather than allowing the uncertainty to affect his preparation, he said he remained focused on the task and followed the instructions given to him by his coaches.

"We are always prepared because competing in an individual event is tougher than competing in a team event. I was already prepared for it. There were clear instructions in my mind not to make any mistakes at this point," he said.

The approach paid off as Kamaljeet and Suruchi combined effectively to secure the gold medal.

The victory also meant that both shooters were able to respond to their individual disappointments in the best possible manner. Instead of allowing one poor result to define their campaign, they were able to reset and perform successfully as a team.

For Kamaljeet, the medal had an importance that extended beyond the Asian Games competition itself.

Shooter reveals career uncertainty

Kamaljeet revealed that his struggles with form had led him to consider leaving shooting if he failed to win a medal at the Games.

The shooter said he had continued to work hard and practise despite results not going in his favour. As the eldest among his siblings, he also carries responsibilities towards his family, which added to the pressure surrounding his career.

"When things were not going well for me, I was trying and practising hard, but things were not going my way," Kamaljeet said.

He revealed that he had given himself an ultimatum before the competition.

"So I gave myself an ultimatum that if I did not win a medal here, then I would not continue in shooting and would look for a job, as I am the eldest among my siblings and have responsibilities towards them," he said.

The Asian Games gold has now given Kamaljeet renewed confidence about continuing his shooting career.

"But now I have a medal in my hand, and hopefully I will soon have a job as well and continue in shooting," he added.

The medal therefore represented more than just another addition to India’s Asian Games tally. For Kamaljeet, it also provided reassurance at a time when he had been contemplating a different career path.

Kamaljeet targets Olympic success

With the Asian Games gold now secured, Kamaljeet has already turned his attention towards the next major target.

The shooter said he wants to compete at the upcoming Summer Olympics and hopes to win gold on the biggest international stage.

"I am also aiming for the upcoming Olympics and will try to win a gold medal there as well," Kamaljeet said.

His immediate Asian Games setback had threatened to overshadow his campaign, but the mixed team victory has given him a significant boost as he looks ahead.

The experience also highlighted the importance of opportunities in team competitions, where a disappointing individual performance can be followed by another chance to contribute to a medal-winning effort.

Suruchi credits mother and coach

Suruchi also entered the mixed team event after experiencing disappointment in her individual competition.

The shooter admitted that she had been upset by her performance and had struggled with the result before the mixed team event. However, she credited her mother and coach with helping her overcome the setback and approach the team competition with a fresh mindset.

"I never imagined getting such low scores in my individual event. I was very sad and disappointed after that loss, but I am very happy now after winning this mixed team gold," Suruchi said.

She particularly acknowledged the role played by her mother and coach in helping her move beyond the disappointment.

"This victory totally belongs to my mother and my coach because they helped me reset my mind. I was carrying the burden of that previous loss, but somehow they managed to help me move on, so this medal belongs to them," she said.

The gold medal consequently provided Suruchi with an opportunity to end her Asian Games shooting campaign on a positive note.

Family sporting legacy motivates Suruchi

Suruchi also spoke about her family’s sporting background and her desire to carry forward the legacy created by her uncle.

"My Tauji (uncle) has won a lot of medals for the country, so I want to win medals for the country like him. I will try to follow in his footsteps and carry forward the legacy he has created for our family," she said.

The Asian Games gold now becomes an important achievement in Suruchi’s own sporting journey.

Her route into shooting, however, was not straightforward. She initially pursued wrestling after being encouraged by her father, who had himself been interested in building a career in sport.

From wrestling to shooting

Suruchi explained that her father initially introduced her to wrestling because he wanted her to pursue a career in sport.

However, she suffered a collarbone injury only a few months after taking up wrestling, forcing her to discontinue the sport.

"My father was very interested in sports. He wanted to make a career in sports, but due to some reasons he could not fulfil that dream. So he wanted me to take up a sport and initially introduced me to wrestling," she said.

"But after just a few months, I suffered a collarbone injury and could not continue. Then he found shooting for me, where the chances of injury are almost zero."

Suruchi said she immediately developed an attraction towards the sport after her father introduced her to shooting.

"When he showed me the sport, I instantly said yes because I was attracted to the pistol," she said.

The switch ultimately set her on a different sporting path and eventually led to an Asian Games gold medal.

World Championship is Suruchi’s next target

The mixed team gold has given Suruchi fresh momentum, but she is already looking beyond the Asian Games.

The shooter identified the World Championship as her next major target as she looks to build on her success with Kamaljeet.

"My next target is the World Championship," Suruchi said.

For both shooters, the Asian Games mixed team event offered a chance to recover from individual disappointment. Kamaljeet went from missing the individual final by a single point to winning gold, while Suruchi overcame the frustration of her individual result to contribute to India’s successful mixed team campaign.

Their gold-medal performance has consequently provided both athletes with a memorable finish to their Asian Games campaign, while giving them fresh targets for the next stage of their international careers.