India’s ace shooters Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu gave India its second medal in the ongoing ISSF World Cup by clinching gold in 10m pistol mixed team event at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range on Monday. This was some cheer for India after two barren days as this duo triumphed in the 10m mixed team air pistol event.
Jitu and Heena defeated Japan’s Yukari Konishi and Tomoyuki Matsuda 5-3 in the final. Slovenia’s Naphaswan Yangpaiboon and Kevin Venta were placed third.
However, since the mixed event is being used on a trial basis in line with IOC’s aim to achieve gender equality in its 2020 Tokyo Olympics program, medals are not being awarded even though the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) executive committee has ratified the recommendations. The recommendations to include mixed gender event was given by the Abhinav Bindra-led ISSF Athletes Committee.
Once the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives its approval to the ISSF changes, the event will become ‘official’.
Earlier, Pooja Ghatkar won the women’s 10m air rifle bronze to give India its first medal in the competition.
The 28-year-old Ghatkar, a former Asian champion, shot 228.8 in the final of 10m air rifle to finish third on the podium and win her maiden World Cup medal.
