Indian shooters Heena Sidhu (left) and Jitu Rai celebrate after winning the 10m air pistol mixed team event of the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup in New Delhi yesterday. Pic/PTI
She was eliminated in the qualification round at the Rio Olympics in August last year finishing 14th in the 10m women’s air pistol event, but that result didn’t seem to affect former World No. 1 and two-time Olympian shooter Heena Sidhu.
A little over six months, the Ludhiana-born pocketed the ‘golden badge’ in the 10m air pistol mixed team event of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi yesterday.
Sidhu along with Jitu Rai beat Japan, which had former world champion Tomoyuki Matsuda, in the final.
Since the mixed event is being used on a trial basis in accordance with the International Olympic Committee’s aim to achieve gender equality in its 2020 Tokyo Olympics program, medals are not being awarded even though the ISSF executive committee has ratified the recommendations.
Sidhu was immensely satisfied with her triumph after a disappointing Rio campaign. “Actually, before Rio, things started looking very shaky. I realised that adopting a defensive mindset was not the best plan, so I changed my approach this time and have gone from a defensive mindset to an attacking one. I haven’t conquered anything today. There’s still lot to do,” Sidhu told mid-day yesterday.
The 27-year-old shooter, also a dentist, failed to qualify for the final of the 10m air pistol in the ongoing event.
“I had a bad match yesterday. Whatever I learnt in that match, I improved today, but it will still take time before I am satisfied with my state. I’m still raw, but winning a medal is definitely a confidence booster,” she added.
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