Youth shooting camp in limbo

Despite discussions between the National Rifle Association of India and the Sports Authority of India...

Despite discussions between the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) on Wednesday to hold a camp to prepare for the Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune, further delay is imminent with lack of coordination being the main reason. The camp was supposed to be held for 75 probables from July 7-20.

The youth games are a curtain raiser for the main event in 2010. But with training for shooting — considered India’s best medal hope at the Commonwealth Games — not moving in the right direction, dominating even the youth tournament will be an uphill task for the Indian shooters. The event is for the under-18 group but almost all the shooters selected for the camp have negligible exposure.

While the NRAI has proposed Pune as the venue for the camp, the Maharashtra government, who had renovated the venues, are yet to hand over the stadiums to the organising committee. With ranges elsewhere also being renovated in preparation for the 2010 Games, the choice of alternative venues for NRAI is limited.

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On Wednesday, top SAI officials had agreed to sanction the camp but are yet to give written details of the ammunition required, without which the camp can’t be held. However, federation officials maintained that the meeting was encouraging. NRAI secretary general Baljeet Singh Sethi said that the response from SAI was good. “Hopefully the camp will start from the first week of July,” he said. The federation has agreed to give equipment for the shotgun events, including clay birds.

NRAI will be announcing the first list of probables for the camp shortly, with the number expected to be pruned during the camp. “We will hold selection trials at the camp. Since there is no team event, one shooter will be selected for each of the competitions for the youth tournament,” said Sethi. It’s also uncertain whether the NRAI will utilise the services of the two Hungarian experts.

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