Shooter shows fake certificate at admission trial

A rifle shooter from Haryana is not allowed to take sports selection trials at St Stephen’s College after doubts over the authenticity of her certificate, reports Ajai Masand.

A rifle shooter from Haryana was not allowed to take sports selection trials at St Stephen’s College on Thursday after doubts over the authenticity of a certificate she produced.

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Signatures of sports authorities on Mrinal Sneh Singh’s certificate — of participation in the Guwahati National Games in February — were genuine, but the college detected other inconsistencies in it.

On Wednesday, Mrinal had appeared for trials at Miranda House.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said Singh had not taken part in the Guwahati Games. Baljeet Singh Sethi, secretary-general, said: “It is strange how the girl got the certificate. The NRAI is the only body authorised to issue certificates to shooters on behalf of the National Games organising committee.”

Mrinal’s father Virender Singh said she had gone to Guwahati as an “extra”, for which the Haryana Olympic Association had given her the certificate. The NRAI said there was no provision for ‘extras’.

The certificate has the signatures of Indian Olympic Association officials Suresh Kalmadi and Randhir Singh. Kalmadi was unaware of any misuse of certificates. “It is a very serious thing if true,” he said.

Haryana Rifle Association’s Deep Bhatia said Mrinal was not among the 19 shooters from the state who went to the Games.

SK Chakravarty, sports officer, St Stephen’s, said the certificate did not have the name of Mrinal’s specific event. She hadn’t furnished her scores either.