Prospects in shooting could have been brighter: Ashok

Former shooting great Ashok Pandit is happy with the prospects of Indian shooters in the 2012 Olympics but feels that things would have been better had there been better co-ordination regarding the preparation of the shooters for the mega event.

Talking to The Indian Express,Ashok who won the first gold for India in shooting in the Commonwealth Games— in 1990 at Auckland,said, “The prospects could have been brighter. There has been a lack of co-ordination between the Sports Ministry,the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) due to which the preparations which should have started about one or two years back have been hampered. I see the serious preparations starting now.”He said that the media was also ‘responsible for widening’ of the gap between the sports ministry and the national rifle body. “If the rifle association made some complaint about equipment,then the media blew up the matter out of proportion which in turn resulted in lack of communication between the two. As a matter of fact,the Central Government has released too much money for the sport but then it must also see to it that the money is being released in a discreet manner and on time. A proper strategy is a must.”

The Arjuna awardee said every shooter from India who has secured the Olympic quota has the ability of coming back with a medal but it depends on how much they are able to enhance their skill and train systematically. “In shooting,besides skill,luck also plays a very important role. Like I can say that Gagan Narang has 70 per cent and Abhinav Bindra has 60 per cent chance of winning an Olympic medal while Rahi and Annu Raj Singh have 50 per cent chances each and that with good preparation,their chances can increase by another 20 per cent but it also finally depends how one performs on that day. So I do not want to put pressure on anybody by taking their names.”

Ashok is happy that with good sponsorship and government support along with the performances of the Indian shooters in international meets,is making the sport popular in the country. “In 1982,when I and Mohinder Lal won a silver for India in pistol shooting,there was a lack of facilities in the country. Things started improving from 1990 and as a result I was able to win a gold at the Commonwealth Games that year. I went on to triumph in the team event in 1994 and 1998 in the Commonwealth Games. So facilities do matter,” he explained.