Heena Sidhu Shoots World Record Equaling Score In 10m Air Pistol

The year-end has brought more reasons to celebrate for ace shooter Heena Sidhu. Recently, she shot a world record- equaling score of 587 in women’s 10m air pistol qualification event of the National selection trials at Dr Karni Singh ranges in Delhi.

Being at her best, Pistol shooter Heena Sidhu topped the qualification round by shooting 99, 97, 98, 99, 97 and 97 in the six-series qualifier. She overshadowed reigning Olympic and World champion Anna Korakaki of Greece who had created the world record at the ISSF Fort Benning World Cup in May this year.

Trained by her husband and coach Ronak Pandit, Heena masters in both 10m air pistol and 25m pistol events. The current score was a result of her decision of focusing only on 10m event this time. Heena has also decided to drop the 25m event ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Games.

"We have decided to focus only on 10m air pistol and drop 25. Of lately, because of too many competitions, it was getting very demanding to focus on both the events. With competitions offering Olympic quotas, next year will be important for Heena, so we decided to give our all in one event than investing in two events and not getting the desired results," Ronak told TOI.

With competitions offering Olympic quotas, next year will be important for Heena, so we decided to give our all in one event than investing in two events and not getting the desired results. - Ronak Pandit

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Heena picked up a gold medal in 25m pistol shooting and a silver in the 10m air rifle event at the Commonwealth Games in April this year. The Arjuna-awardee is a former World No. 1 and world record holder.

After the qualifications, Heena said: "I am very happy with my performance today. I have been working very hard and felt results were not doing justice to my efforts, but today I feel like I have gotten some kind of an endorsement that I am on the right track and need to keep at it."

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