Heena Sidhu picked up India’s third gold medal in shooting at the 6th day of ongoing Commonwealth Games, finishing on top in the women’s 25m pistol event. In the process she also broke the Games record. Indian’s Annu Raj Singh. who was second in qualifications, finished at 6th position in finals.
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Sidhu shot a final score of 38, two of the series being perfect fives, to stand at top of the podium. Australia’s Elena Galiabovitch won silver with a score of 35. Whereas, Malaysia’s Alia Azahari won the bronze medal with a score of 26.
This was Sidhu’s second medal at the ongoing Games after having claimed a silver in the 10m air pistol event behind 16-year-old compatriot Manu Bhaker. Incidentally, this is her first major medal in the 25m pistol event with most of her other podium finishes being in 10m air pistol.
“I am exhausted, those are my thoughts on today’s performance,” Sidhu quipped while speaking to PTI after her gold.
Sidhu, however, was in terrific form after qualifying third with a score of 579 despite admitting to struggling with her trigger finger owing to a nerve problem.
“Thankfully, my trigger which has been giving me some trouble because of a tingling sensation was alright today. I didn’t feel that tingling too much,” Sidhu said.
“The 10m air pistol final is a blur to me, I couldn’t feel my fingers during that. I have been undergoing physiotherapy for this problem but for today, I told my physio not to touch me. I just let it be and to my relief, it went off well,” she said.
Her coach-cum husband and the Indian shooting team’s manager Raunak Pandit was by her side as she spoke and when asked what went into maintaining consistency at the highest level, Sidhu turned to her better half for answers.
“I guess it’s about ensuring that whether you compete at the Olympics or the state championships, the intensity and process remains the same. If an athlete can achieve that, the results will automatically come,” said Pandit.
(PTI Feed)
