At the ISSF World Cup in Karni Singh Ranges in New Delhi, pistol shooters Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu partnered each other to win the gold badge on 27th Feb 2017.
The 11 Gurkha Regiment shooter, Jitu Rai, who was the only shooter to clinch gold at the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon.
He has several World Cup medals to his credit, teamed up with Heena Sidhu in the ‘Mixed team Event’ to clinch the ‘badge’ for India.
Mixed Team event is making its debut in the opening World Cup of the season and medals are not being awarded even though the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) executive committee has ratified the recommendations.
Once the International Olympic Committee (IOC) gives its approval to the ISSF changes, the event will become ‘official’.
The recommendations to include mixed gender event was given by the Abhinav Bindra-led ISSF Athletes Committee and the world governing body soon ratified the proposal.
Teaming up with Heena Sidhu, the duo emerged on top and broke a string of disappointing performances by Indian shooters.
Indian shooters managed just one bronze medal, through Pooja Ghatkar in 10m air rifle.
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.
The recommendations to include mixed gender event was given by the Abhinav Bindra-led ISSF Athletes Committee and the world governing body soon approved the proposal.
Pooja Ghatkar: Know More- 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 is a former Asian champion.
- She shot 228.8 in the final of 10m air rifle to finish third on the podium and win her maiden World Cup medal.
