ISSF approves Heena's participation in Olympics

The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) on Thursday agreed to NRAI's request for exchange of quota, paving the way for participation of Heena Sidhu in the women's Air Pistol event at the London Olympics.

"The ISSF has accepted our request for exchange of Quota for Air Pistol women event. This was conveyed to National Rifle Association of India today by ISSF. This confirms the participation of Heena Sidhu in this event," the NRAI said.

The Commonwealth Games champion Sidhu earned a quota place for the London Games after the NRAI decided to exchange a spot in the 50m Rifle 3 Position event, won by Imran Hasan Khan in the Asian Shooting Championship in January, with the women's Air Pistol event.

Imran, despite having won a quota, was left out as India has already reserved a maximum two slots in the 50M Rifle 3 Position category – that of Gagan Narang and Sanjeev Rajput who are ranked higher than Imran and have also qualified for the Games.

As per ISSF rule, a country is allowed to exchange one quota won by its shooters with another, subject to its availability.

The NRAI unanimously picked Sidhu over other contenders that included 2004 Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Anisa Sayyed during the selection meeting in Rudrapur in February.

The NRAI had sent its selected list of shooters, including Heena, for approval to the ISSF last month.

Heena has a World Cup (2009) silver, Commonwealth Games gold and silver and Asian Games silver to her credit.

Rathore clinched gold at the inaugural Asian Shotgun championship in Kuala Lumpur with a world-record score but that was not considered enough for the armyman to earn a berth for the London Olympics.

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