NRAI gunning for Olympic gold

With young shooters like Abhinav Bindra and Anjali Vedpathak distinguishing themselves on the European circuit, India has set its eyes firmly on gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

As a significant step towards achieving that goal, a 31-memeber contingent will respresent the country for the forthcoming World Cups in Sydney and Shanghai in April.

"The year 2002 is very important for Indian shooters because there are four World Cups and the World Championships from which they will get a 'quota place' for the Athens," said Baljit Singh Sethi, secretary general of the National Rifle Association of India, in Delhi on Saturday.

Winning a gold in the two World Cups - at Sydney and Shanghai - will earn the Indians a berth in the Athens Games.

"Besides, we also have the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games coming up later this year which are again Olympic qualifying events," Sethi said.

The team, training at the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in Delhi, will leave on April 9 for the two World Cups - starting in Sydney on April 10 and ending at Shanghai on April 30.

Overseeing the training camp are National coach Prof. Sunny Thomas and three foreign coaches - Marcello Dradi for trap and double trap events, Tibor Gonzol for pistol and Juan Giha Yarur for skeet events.

The biggest hurdle in the team's preparation has been the paucity of ammunition. About 15,000 rounds are needed for a proper camp whereas only 3,000 have been arranged for the present camp, which will have two trials.

The NRAI will have to wait till May-June for new ammunition as its license has expired.

But what is heartening for the NRAI is the improved performance of the country's shooters.Coach Thomas directly attributed it to the appointment of a foreign coach.

"Though India had won 41 medals at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships at Bisley last year the scores were not on par with internaional marks. But with the appointment of a foreign coach there has been a marked improvement," he said.

"In the European circuit, Abhinav Bindra shot around the 595 mark and above, and Anjali Vedpathak and Ronak Pandit defeated some world's top shooters."

The NRAI, with the aim of keeping the shooters busy in 2003, will also be bidding for a World Cup with a 'quota place', the Asian Clay Pigeon Championship, and the Commonwealth Shooting Championships.

The team:
Men: Rifle - Satguru Das, AP Subbiah, Abhijit Konduskar, Abhinva Bindra, Ahok Kumar Shahi and Charan Singh; Pistol - Samresh Jung, Ved Prakash and Jaspal Rana; Shot Gun - Anwer Sultan, Mansher singh, Manavjit Singh, Harinder Singh Bedi, Amardeep Singh Rai, Rahoul Rai, Navin Jindal, R V S Rathore, Gaurav Sondhi and Moraad Ali Khan.

Women: Rifle - Raj Kumari, Kuheli Gangulee, Anjali Vedpathak, Suma Shirur, Pournima Gawahane, Sabeeha Dhillon and Meena; Pisol - Sonia Rana, Baljit Kaur, Saroja Kumari and Sushma Rana; Shot Gun - Arti Singh Rao.

Coaches: Prof. Sunny Thomas, D V S Rao, D S Chandel, Marcelo Dradi and Juan Giha Yarur.