Legendary pistol shooter Jaspal Rana has expressed serious concerns over the delay in naming the Indian shooting contingent for the Paris Olympics. He says that the selected shooters will therefore have little time for the final phase of preparations. Several countries, including the US and Italy, and many European powers have announced that their squads and their shooters are in the final stages of refining their skills and programs for the Olympics, even as India on Friday began its nearly month-long exercise began.
The top five shooters in the pistols and rifles category will undergo four trials – April 19-27 (New Delhi, Trial 1 & 2) and May 10-19 (Bhopal, Trial 3 & 4) – and the selection for Paris will be made afterwards done, leaving little time for the final phase of the training.
The Olympic Games start in Paris on July 26.
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has completed its trials in shotgun events but they are yet to announce the squad in the hope that a few more shooters can secure the Paris quota for the final Olympic qualifying championship, which started in Doha on Friday . .
“We are not in the same category of training and preparation as other people around the world. They (strong countries in shooting sports) have already selected their teams and started their training and we are behind schedule,” said Padma Shri and Arjuna. Awardee shooter Rana in harsh comments against NRAI policy.
“No one knows yet who is going and who is not going. That puts a lot of pressure on the players who have won quota places, while for those who have not won the quota places there is much less pressure,” the foursome added. Asian Games gold medalist, who is currently the personal coach of Olympian Manu Bhaker.
In shooting sports, shooters win quota places for the country and the federation decides the quota based on their performance in trials, national and international competitions.
Rana also slammed the ongoing trials at the Karni Singh Ranges, saying he had never seen a competition where only five shooters were shortlisted per event.
Under ISSF rules, eight shooters qualify for the finals in pistol and rifle events, with the exception of the men's 25-meter rapid fire, where six make it to the medal round.
“Well, I've never seen five shooters compete in the finals, so I don't know what's happening. I've never shot like that in my life. I'm seeing five shooters compete for the first time.” .
“There should have been at least three more shooters. They should have at least completed the number of shooters in the final… maybe added three 'zero' shooters. They (NRAI) should have considered including zero shooters ( to complete the whole) ISSF requirement),” he added.
'Zero' shooters do not compete for medals or quota places, but meet the minimum requirements of a competition.
“Yes, I will be targeted for saying this, but I think there should have been three more shooters (as per ISSF requirement). There are many things we can complain about, there are many things that can be done. But what whatever it is, it is there (in front of everyone), and the shooters must be prepared for anything,” he added.
Jaspal found a series of four trials a bit too much and gave little time in between to rest and recover.
In the case of Manu and Asian Games gold medalist Esha Singh, they will have to appear in eight trials as the duo compete in the 10m air pistol and 25m rapid fire event. This puts extra pressure on their physical and mental well-being for a month.
“My personal opinion is that shooters should be prepared for anything, but honestly this is too much. They (federation) could have used some scores in (national and international) competitions as trial scores. You (NRAI) have all the options, if you whatever you want to do,” he said.
When asked if this is the ideal situation for shooters to de-stress with less than two days between tests, he said: “There is no time (to de-stress). There is not enough time even between trials in. Delhi and Bhopal.”
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