The lack of a fulltime Union Sports Minister may have found its first victim: India’s shooters. Thanks to a combination of delays at the Sports Authority of India and the Prime Minister’s Office, which is currently handling the portfolio, the shooters have been stuck with less ammo just days ahead of the high-profile Asian Championships.An application to import ammunition worth Rs 2.4 crore has been returned by the PMO to the Sports Ministry a month after it was received, with a remark that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee of the Sports Authority of India.The committee is not scheduled to meet in the next couple of weeks and the Asian Championships begin in Bangkok on September 7.Indeed, the delay has forced most Indian shooters, including Lt Col Rajyavardhan Rathore and Manavjit Singh, to catch early flights to the Thai capital.The problem surrounds the Baspherie and Pellagri .12 bore ammunition for trap, double trap and skeet shooters. The matter had been pending with SAI for more than six months before a committee comprising ministry and SAI officials — which had zeroed in on the Italian brand after seeking the opinion of all top shooters — opened a Letter of Credit.The delay could cost the country's shooters dearly in terms of performance, says National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary-general Baljit Singh Sethi. ‘‘Though we want to cash in on the sport’s popularity after Rathore’s Olympic silver, we are struggling to cope with the acute shortage of ammunition. Our shooters have not prepared as well as they should have. We’ve loaned them whatever we could but we can’t import any more because we are short of funds.’’M.P. Ganesh, SAI’s Executive Director (Teams), while admitting to the procedural delays, said things would be sorted out soon. ‘‘We have already opened the LC but can’t do anything without the finance committee’s approval.’’
