Sidhu adds third gold to India’s shooting haul
Nerve problems have meant struggles with her trigger finger
Heena Sidhu picked up India’s third gold medal in shooting at the ongoing Commonwealth Games, finishing on top in the women’s 25-metre pistol event and also breaking a Games record in the process, in Gold Coast yesterday.
The 28-year-old Sidhu shot a final score of 38, two of the series being perfect fives, to claim top honours ahead of Australian Elena Galiabovitch (35).
The bronze medal went to Malaysia’s Alia Azahari (26).
This was Sidhu’s second medal at the Games after having claimed a silver in the 10m air pistol event behind 16-yearold compatriot Manu Bhaker. This is her first major medal in the 25-metre pistol event with most of her other podium finishes in 10-metre air pistol.
“I am exhausted, those are my thoughts on today’s performance,” Sidhu said after her gold.
Annuraj Singh finished sixth after being eliminated in the second stage of the same event. Her final score was a disappointing 15.
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.
Maintain consistency
“Thankfully, my trigger which has been giving me some trouble because of a tingling sensation was all right today. I didn’t feel that tingling too much,” Sidhu said.
“The 10-metre 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.”
Her coach, 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.
Earlier, defending silvermedallist Gagan Narang signed off a disappointing seventh while debutant Chain Singh finished fourth in the 50-metre rifle prone event.
Narang, who qualified third for the final with a score of 619.4, went out after the first stage of elimination.