Heena Sidhu misses air pistol final at Changwon World Cup

The experienced Heena was placed a point behind Kim Jangmi of Korea who grabbed the last spot in the eight-member final.

Heena Sidhu shot a series of 98, 93, 97, 95, 94 and 97. (File Photo)

Heena Sidhu shot 574 and failed to qualify for the women’s air pistol final by a point in the shooting World Cup, in Korea, on Wednesday.

With the cream of world shooting in action, the efficiency of Indian shooting was put to a test of fire and the talented Manu Bhaker, who had won the gold, not only in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games (CWG), in Gold Coast but also the gold at the Mexico World Cup and the Sydney Junior World Cup, slipped to the 30th spot with a total of 571.

The experienced Heena, who had held the world record, shot a series of 98, 93, 97, 95, 94 and 97 as she was placed a point behind Kim Jangmi of Korea the London Olympics gold medallist, who grabbed the last spot in the eight-member final.

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The 16-year-old golden girl Manu had a series of 97, 94, 97, 96, 93 and 94. Manu had 384 after four series but slithered down in the new format, which demands women to shoot an equal number of 60 shots as the men. To her credit, Manu had 572 and 570 on way to the gold medals in the Mexico World Cup and the Sydney Junior World Cup.

In the men’s rapid fire pistol. Neeraj Kumar shot 579 and missed the final by four points. In fact, the reigning world champion and the Rio Olympics silver medallist Jean Quiquampoix of France took the last spot in the final with 583.

15-year-old Anish Bhanwala, who had won the World Championship junior silver medal in sports pistol and the rapid-fire gold in the junior World Cup, following a qualification of 585 was not at his best as he was placed 16th with a total of 578.

The results:

Men:

25m rapid fire pistol: 1. Kim Junhong (Kor) 38 (586); 2. Christian Reitz (Ger) 34 (584); 3. Oliver Geis (Ger) 29 (587); 13. Neeraj Kumar 579; 16. Anish Bhanwala 578.

Women:

10m air pistol: Viktoria Chaika (Blr) 241.7 (578); 2. Ji Xiaojing (Chn) 241.2 (576); 3. Zorana Arunovic (SRB) 219.2 (576); 14. Heena Sidhu 574; 27. Mahima Turhi Agrawal 571; 30. Manu Bhaker 571.