Ahead of Rio Games, consistency on Heena Sidhu’s mind

Ask Heena Sidhu and she will agree that 2016 has brought her good fortune. She not only won gold in the 10m air pistol event, but also an Olympic quota seat at the Karni Singh ranges here recently.

But more than the gold, she was relieved to secure her Rio berth — this being her third gold medal in four months.

Last year was highlighted by brilliant shooting from Heena but bad luck left her frustrated. Not only did she narrowly miss out on an Olympic berth, but the one quota event — in Kuwait — where she shot a gold was stripped of its Olympic qualification status. “It was a tough competition as it was my last chance to get an Olympic quota. And I am happy that I made the most of it. I had been missing the berth by close margins in 2015. So I knew I had to address my problems in training and give a good performance this time. I am happy that I was able to do that and qualify for Rio.

“It is also a benchmark going into the Olympics and it shows that we are headed in the right direction,” the former world no. one told this paper.

Heena, who was the ninth Indian shooter to qualify for the Rio Games, will compete in two events — 10m air pistol and 25m air pistol.

Ahead of the Olympics though, there are some important tournaments lined up and Heena says she needs to maintain her form.

“I don’t think I have to work on anything to improve my game. I just have to make sure that I maintain this state. What I scored in New Delhi is enough to get me through the Olympics. I have shot even better score in the past. So I am not looking to become better and desperate, but just maintain what I am doing. I just have to believe in myself,” said the 26-year-old, who will next compete in the South Asian Games and World Cups.

“As far expectation is concerned, an athlete can only hope and make sure that she performs to the best of her ability, gives 100 per cent in every match she plays. If I am able to do that, I will be very happy.”

Heena also plans to shoot higher 10s during training over the next few months and for this, she will head to Germany.

“Looking at the weather conditions and temperature in Brazil, I think India is better suited camp location. As of now, I will train in India. But before competitions, I usually go to Germany because I have a peaceful kind of base set up there. I know a few people and ranges with good facilities over there.”

The Chinese and the Koreans are expected to be Heena’s biggest competitors in Rio. But, Heena’s coach and husband Ronak Pandit says, “Heena’s toughest competition will be against herself.

“If she stays calm, focused and believes in herself, she can win a medal at Rio,” added Pandit.

A world record followed by number one status in the world rankings in 2014, Heena had it all at a young age and Pandit believes back-to-back success was a distraction for her.

“She got little defensive. She didn’t want to let it go and thus made some mistakes. But she has evolved now and is at the peak of her game now,” explained Pandit on Heena’s failure to win medals at the 2014 Commonwealth and the Asian Games.