Shooters stuck in red tape

At a time when funds should not be a problem, Indian shooters bound for the Beijing Olympics have become the target of official red tape. Of nine shooters who have achieved Olympic quota berths, at least five are still attempting to find out details of the application they had submitted to avail the government grant under the National Sports Development Fund scheme. Since the file is still pending, the shooters aren’t able to chalk out their advance training programme for the Beijing Games.

Delhi-based pistol shooter Samresh Jung is among the five who had applied for a grant in the first week of March. Since the application is still pending, Jung had to spend money from his own pocket recently to train for 10 days at Melbourne’s International Shooting Club under pistol coach Tibor Gonczol.

Jung is upset about the delay, saying it diverts his focus. “With four months for the big game, we don’t know where we have to train next. Funds are no use if they come too late. More money at the eleventh hour will not enhance the chances of winning an Olympic medal.”

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The shooters will proceed to Nanjing, China, to participate in the Asian shooting meet from April 3 to 9. It will be followed by the World Cup in Beijing from April 10 to 21.

But after that, plans are on hold as there are no funds available for training abroad. “We don’t know whether the application will be accepted or not. The ministry’s meeting to discuss the application will take place somewhere in the middle of the April. That will hardly give us time to chalk out preparation plans,” added Jung.