Asian Games Day 6: Kamaljeet and Suruchi win India’s first shooting gold as Elangovan bags historic pole vault medal
India secured their first shooting gold at the Asian Games 2026 on September 25 when Kamaljeet and Suruchi Singh won the Mixed Team 10m Air Pistol event at the Aichi Prefectural General Shooting Gallery in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The pair set a new Asian Games final mark of 484.6 after equalling the Asian qualification record of 587 points.
The shooting success came after a difficult opening five days for India’s shooting contingent, with coach Samaresh Jung directing the unexpected pairing of Kamaljeet and Suruchi for the event. The duo first matched the Asian Record in qualification with 587 points and then improved on the Games best in the final to take gold, providing the team its first top-step finish in the sport at these Games.
In athletics, Gulveer Singh claimed silver in the men’s 10,000m, running the last 400m strongly to finish second after a race described as tough with two Bahrain runners running not to cross him; Gulveer had earlier taken silver at CWG 2026. Baranica Elangovan made history by winning India’s first-ever Asian Games medal in pole vault, clearing 4.15m to earn bronze.
Vishal Thennarasu topped his heat and qualified for the men’s 400m final after accelerating in the final 50m; he had been part of the mixed team 4x400m relay that won silver on Thursday. Manpreet Kaur added a bronze in the women’s shot put with a throw of 17.17m.
On the range, India won silver in the Men’s 50m Rifle 3 Positions team event. Aishwary Pratap Tomar Singh and Niraj Kumar reached the individual finals in that discipline but did not secure individual medals.
The Indian women’s hockey team beat Japan 3-1 in a group match. Both the men’s and women’s kabaddi sides progressed to their finals with wins on Day 6 and are set to face Iran in the gold-medal matches; India and Iran had met in the women’s league stage, where India won the encounter, and the men’s final was noted as a game to watch with multiple stars present.
Badminton defending champions Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy were eliminated in the first round after winning the opening set 21-12 but dropping the next two to Pakkapon Theeratsakul and Peeratchai Sukphun of Thailand. India recorded positive results in mixed doubles and women’s doubles. In boxing, Sachin won his round of 32 bout in men’s 60 kg while Preeti Pawar lost in the round of 16 of the women’s 54 kg category.
Squash saw Veer Chotrani lose in the quarterfinals, while Anahat Singh and Abhay Singh progressed in the women’s and men’s singles respectively; the pair of Joshana Chinappa and Velavan Senthilkumar won their mixed doubles quarterfinal. In table tennis, Manush Shah and Diya Chitale took bronze in mixed doubles, with Manush Shah (men’s singles) and Yashaswini Ghorpade (women’s singles) remaining in contention.
Other Indian entries in canoe sprint, fencing, swimming, and esports competed without mounting a strong challenge, while surfers had a good start in the shortboard events. Nirupama Devi Seram finished sixth in the women’s 61kg weightlifting category.
After Day 6 India sat 12th in the medal table with 22 medals — 3 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze. With the kabaddi finals against Iran scheduled and a number of Indian athletes still competing in individual finals, India’s medal prospects will be decided across the remaining events.
