When ex-army man Havildar Inder Singh searched for a training ground post-COVID, he wasn’t just looking for shooting lessons — he wanted values, discipline, and integrity. His quest ended at Guru Dronacharya Shooting Academy in Gurugram, run by retired soldier Suresh Singh.
That’s where Suruchi Singh, an 18-year-old from a modest farming family in Jhajjar, Haryana, began her transformation from novice to national hero.
Coach Suresh laid down a simple condition: “Follow my method, and give it six months.” Suruchi committed — and the medals followed.
In 2024 alone, Suruchi bagged:
- 7 golds at the Delhi Nationals
- 2 more at the National Games in Uttarakhand
- 3 ISSF World Cup golds — in Peru, Argentina, and most recently, the 10m Mixed Team event with Olympian Saurabh Chaudhary
- Plus, a team bronze
She wasn’t born a star. Her coach recalls early frustrations:
“She’d say, ‘You’re wasting my time.’ But I taught her to channel patience and focus.”
Initially, she was kept from competition — just trained. Over months, she mastered match timing and mental control.
Before every big event, she calls her coach:
“Sir, I have five minutes. What do I do?”
A quick pep talk follows — and then she delivers.
At home, she operates farm machinery when not training.
“If not at the World Cup, she’d be harvesting wheat,” her coach smiles.
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