Anjali awaits `hardship quota’

The International Sports Shooting Federation (ISSF) is to announce its last list of `hardship quotas’ on August 16 when the game’s governing body will distribute 15 wild cards.

“We expect one for Anjali following her consistent performance,” Thomas said from Bangalore.

India has already got one wild card in rifle — for young Abhinav Bindra — which makes Anajali’s case more difficult.

“But we are very much hopeful. Hope ISSF considers her case,” Thomas said.

Pistol ace Jaspal Rana’s Olympic dream looks distant as his performance in Air Pistol event is not so impressive.

Rana shot 581/600 and 582 in the last two World Cups in Munich and Atlanta respectively, while his last competition score was 575 which is far from moving the ISSF.

“He is world record holder in Centre-fire pistol — a non-Olympic event and on that basis we should not expect a wildcard for Rana,” Thomas said.

The National coach, however, said if Rana’s case gets positive response, India may get a medal in shooting events at the Sepetember 15-October 1 Olympic Games.

The two shooters who have already booked tickets to Sydney — trapshooter Anwar Sultan and Bindra — are meanwhile undergoing rigorous training at different locations ahead of National camp in Bangalore from August 8 to 28.

Sultan, who booked Olympics quota place for the country by winning silver medal at the Asian Championships in Langkawi (Malaysia) in January, is currently in Italy with trap coach Marcelo Dradi.

The veteran shooter, who underwent trauma over his selection for Sydney following sudden loss of form after the Asian event, is working hard with his Italian coach and teammates Mansher Singh, Zorawar Singh and Manavjit Singh.

The trio of trap shooters have joined Sultan in Italy as part of National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) plans to train for 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.

India’s bright chance for the moment remains Abhinav Bindra, who will join National camp in Bangalore on August 15.

“Bindra is capable of doing it (winning a medal in Olympics) if he continues with his current form,” Thomas said.

Bindra shot 596/600 in Munich World Cup which is a reasonably good score to be in contention for Olympic medal.

The rifleman is currently at home in Chandigarh and will undergo two trials from August 20 to 28 before leaving for Sydney on September 3. “He needs some competition and open trials before leaving for Olympics,” Thomas said.

Bindra, who topped the list in the finals, had tied for the first place but missed the medal by a whisker after a poor round and finished fourth by agonising 0.1 point margin.

But that should not unsettle the young shooter who will be assisted by rifle coach Laszlo Szucsak of Hungary.