Jitu Rai, Heena Sidhu bag Gold at ISSF World Cup

Finally, India got its first gold medal at the on-going Shooting World Cup at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range as the duo Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu beat Japan in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Event at the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup in New Delhi on Monday.

After winning a bronze medal by Pooja Ghatke on Friday in the women’s 10m Air Rifle event, Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu gave India more reasons to celebrate.

Rai and Heena were trailing in the semifinal stage but staged a spirited fightback to enter the gold medal match and eventually won the ‘golden badge’.

Both were teamed up to finish ahead of Japan’s Yukari Konishi and Tomoyuki Matsuda 5-3. Slovenia’s Naphaswan Yangpaiboon and Kevin Venta were placed third.

However, the mixed event got its start with the 10m air rifle event at the World Cup on Saturday with China winning the gold medal over Japan.