Young Suruchi holds off Manu Bhaker in India’s 1-2 in ISSF World Cup in Lima

The duel between Suruchi Singh, the new shooting sensation, and double Olympic medallist Manu Bhaker was the highlight of day one at the ISSF World Cup at Las Palmas shooting range in the Peruvian capital of Lima on Tuesday, with teenager Suruchi prevailing in the battle of Jhajjar girls from Haryana to win back-to-back World Cup golds while Manu had to settle for silver.

Suruchi, who grabbed headlines with a gold in the previous leg of the World Cup, tallied 243.6 in the 24-shot 10m air pistol women final to leave Paris medallist Manu 1.3 point behind in the chase. China’s Yao Qianxun took bronze.

Their 1-2 in the event meant that India collected one medal of each colour on the opening day, with Saurabh Chaudhary claiming a bronze in the men’s event. India are on top of the standings for now, with China, who won the men’s air pistol gold, in second.

There were early signs of the domination by the Indian duo as they comfortably qualified from the 28-strong field. Suruchi took second with a regulation 582 while Manu was fourth with a 578. Sainyam, the third Indian in the fray, was 11th with 571.

Carrying on her peak which she hit in the last nationals in December, Suruchi was on the money in the final as well. She quickly moved to second after the first series of five-shots. Yao had taken an early lead and Manu was fourth with Uruguay’s Julieta Jimenez, who shot a good final, in third at the stage.

After the second five-shot series, Yao had compatriot Meng Yufei breathing down her neck, just 0.1 behind, while Suruchi moved down to third with Manu holding on to her fourth position. The Indian duo, Suruchi in particular, came into their elements as Meng had a meltdown of sorts. A couple of high 10s ensured that after the 13th  single shot, it was an Indian 1-2 with the Chinese falling out of podium places.

Manu then had a couple of mid to low 9s for her 16th  and 17th shots, which probably cost her the gold, with Suruchi emerging the more consistent on the day.

Yao then had a good run and dethroned Julieta for bronze but with the final two shots left, it was Suruchi ahead of Manu by 0.7. The teenager shot both the final shots more than her senior to come out on top on a profitable day for Indian shooters.