She has a penchant for shooting high scores in a crisis situation and history-creating pistol shooter Heena Sidhu, who has just won a gold medal in the World Cup finals in Munich, is now bracing up for next year's World Championships where she wants to attain "peak" form.
The 24-year-old unassuming girl from Patiala became the first Indian pistol shooter to clinch a gold at ISSF World Championship. Sidhu, who scored 384/400, was at the third position after completing the qualification stage and outperformed other top names in the finals.
"Before shooting the last shot, I knew I was very close. I just shot it and the last shot was sort of my signature, it was bigger than the medal," Sidhu said today.
"I conserved a little energy in the qualification. I shot two 8s initially and was not very happy. But I know my potential and I knew I can still make up. You just have to shoot to get into the finals."
Next year will be crucial for the shooters as the World Championships, Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games are lined up one after another.
"The challenge next year is that three big matches are lined up in a span of three months. CWG, I will just do my average thing, I wish to peak in the World Championships," Sidhu said.
"We hope to bring back medals, bring back quota places for Olympics."
The Indian shooter said she has worked on improving the qualification.
"I was shooting well in the finals, it has always been good. Till 2012, I was lagging in qualification, I concentrated on that and ended up neglecting the finals. I have worked very hard just like I was before the London Olympics," Sidhu said.
"Earlier, my idea before entering the finals was to be very aggressive, but I have realised it is not possible to sustain that aggression for 20 shots."
Sidhu, who has taken a break from studies after completing her graduation in medicine, had a problem regarding renewal of her visa prior to flying out to Munich.
