ACE INTERNATIONAL shooter Mansher Singh, whom Sports and MP Youth Welfare Department has engaged as consultant for its proposed shooting academy, has roots in Madhya Pradesh.
“My father K K Singh hailed from Katni and my mother Pamela Singh worked in the State’s Tourism Department. I have relatives in Bhopal too,” Mansher told Hindustan Times on Monday here.
Mansher was in the trap shooting team that won the silver medal in the recent Doha Asian Games. Winner of the Commonwealth gold medal, Mansher says gone are the days when shooting was confined to metros. “Youths from small places are also evincing interest in shooting which is a good sign,” he said
On medal prospects in trap shooting in the Beijing Olympics, he said India had a great future. However, he added, players should be given adequate time to deliver results.
“Players cannot be groomed overnight. We took a long time in winning a single medal in shooting in the Olympics. I won a medal in 1986 Asiad. Now Indian shooters have started giving good results,” said Mansher.
He said the the Chinese teams were better because “Chinese players participate almost in every big international event. Indians qualify for fewer events. But situation is changing and India has started performing better in international events too,” said Mansher.
Mansher is now focused on the World championship to be held in March this year. It is important, as it will decide qualification for the Beijing Olympics. “I am confident of qualifying for the Olympics,” the ace shooter averred.
{{/usCountry}}Mansher is now focused on the World championship to be held in March this year. It is important, as it will decide qualification for the Beijing Olympics. “I am confident of qualifying for the Olympics,” the ace shooter averred.
{{/usCountry}}He visited Bhopal in 2006 when the Sports Department announced the opening of the shooting academy. “The important thing is that the State Government is involved in it. It is good for future of shooting in MP,” said Mansher.