Shooter Heena keen to let her performance do the talking

MUMBAI: When it comes to the Asian Games, pistol shooter Heena Sidhu has some unfinished business. Heena, who is getting ready for her third Asian Games, has won a silver and bronze medal in the Continental competition but both have come in team competition in 2010 (silver in 10m air pistol team) and 2014 (bronze in 25m pistol team).

She has a good chance of putting the record straight in the upcoming Games in Indonesia starting on August 18.

Heena has some extra motivation to better her performance in the 2018 Asian Games as she has been picked only for 10m air pistol event. Heena has earlier accused the National Rifle Association of India selectors of tweaking rules to favour one individual. The Asian Games will be a chance for Heena to let her performance do the talking. On Saturday, the 28-year-old refused to talk of the selection controversy but said she was confident of a good showing.

“Yes, this is another opportunity to do that (win a gold medal in Asian Games), to improve medals, to improve my performance, I have won only two medals in Asian Games and hopefully will improve my performance this time, maybe even get a gold.

“But, the thing is that even athletes cannot guarantee a medal. You can only go there and perform. Medals are a very subjective and comparative matter and that happens at the end of a good performance. So, our job is to give our best and that is what I plan to do,” Heena said on the sidelines of an event by the Indian Olympic Association and Edelweiss to extend best wishes to members of the Indian contingent for the Asian Games.

“I think India will improve its medals tally in shooting this time. I have seen the performance of the Indian team and I have trained with these people. I know where things went wrong last time and how we have come from there. I think everybody has improved,” said Heena, who is also preparing for the Word Championship, which will be held immediately after the Asiad.