New Delhi: Indian pistol shooter Heena Sidhu, a World Cup finals gold medallist, today expressed displeasure with the condition of the sooting range in Pune.
The 60th National shooting championship in rifle and pistol will be organised at the Balewadi Shooting Range in Pune from December 13 to 26.
“I don’t want to say anything about the range. One should come down and have a look. Yes, the range is in a bad shape but I do not wish to elaborate any further,” Heena said.
The 27-year-old is the first Indian pistol shooter to be ranked world number one. Heena, though, could not make it to the final of the 10m women’s air pistol event at the Rio Olympics earlier this year.
Her campaign in the Brazilian city ended after she finished 21st at the end of the 25 metre Pistol Rapid Stage qualification.
About the range, she wrote on her twitter handle, “Came to pune for training before the nationals. But the range is just falling apart. More than half of d lanes arnt even working. Very sad.”
Heena was in the news recently when pulled out of the Asian Airgun Shooting Championship in Iran due to the compulsory hijab rule for all women athletes.
She had qualified for the Rio Games by winning the gold medal at the Asian Championships in January.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) will organise the championship with the support of the Maharashtra Rifle Association.
PTI