Palembang: Heena Sidhu put behind a modest qualification to win her maiden Asian Games individual medal, her bronze in the women’s 10m air pistol taking India’s haul at the Jakabaring Shooting Range to nine.
Sidhu came from behind in the finals and was just 0.1 from the lead after she produced a 10.8 on the 21st shot. Her next shot was a 9.6 and her overall score of 219.2 could only give her a bronze. Sixteen-year-old Manu Bhaker was left disappointed again, this time in her main event as she finished fifth.
The gold went to China’s Wang Qian, whose 240.3 was a Games Record. South Korea’s Kim Minjung took the silver, aggregating 237.6.
Sidhu, a two-time World Cup gold medallist and former World No.1, had recovered well in the qualification earlier in the day to finish seventh with 571 while Manu was third with 574.
“It is all because of my efforts in the finals (that I have won a medal). The qualification was low. I am not happy with it at all,” Sidhu said.
“In the finals you are under pressure. So I was trying to be very defensive. I think if I would have been more decisive and given more clicks in the beginning, I am sure I would have won the gold,” added the 28-year-old from Ludhiana.
