Rahi Sarnobat: 'Maybe video footage could have helped' after controversial zero shot at Asian Games

NEW DELHI: Indian shooter Rahi Sarnobat said video footage could perhaps have helped verify what happened during her controversial zero shot at the Asian Games in Japan.Sarnobat’s campaign in the women’s 25m sports pistol event took a disappointing turn on September 28 when one of her shots was ruled to have hit the frame of the target.The decision cost her valuable points in the opening series of the Rapid round. She scored 86 out of 100 instead of the 96 she expected, which affected India’s medal chances in the event.‘I am not fully convinced’Sarnobat said she could not say whether the shot was a misfire or went off target. She added that there was no unusual sound when she fired the shot.“Frankly, I cannot say that it was a misfire or it was off target. I fired all the shots, and we can hear if the ammunition is hitting somewhere other than the target,” Sarnobat told PTI.“There was no unusual sound. So, I am not fully convinced that the shot was not on the target,” she added.‘Maybe video footage could have helped’Sarnobat said video footage might have helped settle the issue, but added that cameras are not normally used for such incidents in the 25m event.“Maybe video footage could have helped, but this is standard practice. You usually do not have cameras for these incidents. It is not that cameras were not there for the Games; it is just not the standard practice,” she said.The Indian shooter also revealed that her team tried to challenge the decision twice.“Yes, we went for a review twice. There were two reviews. Usually, it is a photograph that is produced after the incident if you raise a claim,” she said.“There are certain rules to sort that out, and after all that, they have given the result that we have today,” she added.‘25m event is quite unpredictable’Sarnobat said such incidents are not unusual in the 25m event because of its unpredictable nature.“There are certain rules because the 25m event is quite unpredictable. So many incidents happen in 25m on a daily basis. There are enough rules to minimise the possibility of wrong decisions or whatever. But sometimes, I think, things are beyond that,” she said.‘I am still unable to accept it’The shooter admitted that she was still finding it difficult to move on from the incident.“Yes, it is disappointing. I am still unable to accept it. I am aware that I have to accept it and move forward as soon as possible because there is so much to do,” she said.“There are so many competitions coming up, and there is a journey ahead,” she added.‘I need some time to process’Sarnobat said she wants to spend some time with her family before reviewing what happened and moving forward.“I need some time to process. It is not like something happened yesterday and the next day you just carry forward as if nothing happened.“I don't think that is going to be the case.“So, I will take my time. I will go back home, be with my family and review everything. As I said, whether it was right or wrong, this is the fact. So, as soon as I process that, it will be better for me,” she concluded.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.