Harveen Srao finished 7th in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol while the former world number one Heena Sidhu could not make the cut for the finals, finishing 11th in the qualification at the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi.
Harveen was impressive with a score shot 379 (96,92,95,96) to qualify for the finals but lacked the experience to strike in a World Cup final.
The 30-year-old Harveen was competing in only her second final in a World Cup after the one in Fort Benning in 2007. She had finished fourth in the Asian Games in Doha in 2006.
Heena Sidhu had all the experience, but missed the finals by a point after shooting a qualification score of 378 (95,94,94,95).
Another Indian in the event, Priyanka Susvirkar was way behind at 36th.
Lin Yuemei and Zhang Mengxue made it another one-two finish for China. The 23-year-old Lin outscored the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medallist Zhang. Lin had previously won a World Cup silver in Gabala, Azerbaijan, two years ago.
“Actually I was kinda nervous during the final match,” said Lin at the end of the medal ceremony. “Zhang is a great friend of mine, we train and spend a lot of time together. It’s a great feeling to win a medal here, in the first competition of the season.”
Singapore’s Teo Shun Xie — winner of last year’s World Cup bronze medal in Rio de Janeiro — won the bronze medal.
The Results:
Women’s 10m Air Pistol: 1. Lin Yuemei (Chn) 248.8 (WR) 380; 2. Zhang Mengxue (Chn) 237.8 (380); 3. Shun Xie Teo (Sgp) 217.4 (380); 7. Harveen Srao 133.6 (379); 11. Heena Sidhu 378; 36. Priyanka Susvirkar 364. MQS: Yasha Singh 378.
