The ISSF World Cup Final
The ISSF World Cup Final in New Delhi (IND) immediately crowned the home team, as Heena Sidhu and Jitu Rai climbed atop the podium in the 10m Air Pistol Mixed Team, becoming the first two of athletes to claim the ISSF crystal globes in this specific event.
Despite starting off with a 2.5-point disadvantage from the lead after the first series of five shots, Sidhu and Rai gradually closed the gap on France’s Florian Fouquet (24) and Celine Goberville (31), tying the score at 343.1 after 34 shots, and building a consistent gap with the following and decisive series.
30-year-old Rai and 28-year-old Sidhu finished with 483.4 points and the Gold medal around their neck, while their French rivals secured Silver with 481.1.
The Bronze medal was awarded to Yang Wei (32) and Cai Xiaoxue (25) of the People’s Republic of China, who failed to match the pace set by India and France, firmly holding 3rd place and finishing 3rd with 418.2 total points.
Pavlo Korostylov (19) and Yulia Korostylova (33) of Ukraine left the match after 34 total shots, taking 5th place with 333.2 points. Four shots later, it was Chinese Taipei’s 23-year-old Kuo Kuan-Ting and 21-year-old Yu Ai Wen who were eliminated, as they finished with 373.0 points and took 4th place.
