E-Paper
Nationals highlights shooters' plight
It's almost seven years since Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore bagged silver in double trap at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Over three years have lapsed since Abhinav Bindra won India their maiden Olympic gold by winning the 10m air rifle event in Beijing.
It's almost seven years since Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore bagged silver in double trap at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Over three years have lapsed since Abhinav Bindra won India their maiden Olympic gold by winning the 10m air rifle event in Beijing.
The two events were supposed to change the face of Indian shooting, but that's yet to happen.
If a decade ago, there was a shortage of weapons and other training equipment, the situation is the same for a majority of shooters at the grass-roots level.
As was evident during the 55th National Shooting Championships for rifle and pistol, almost all upcoming shooters spoke of the hardships faced in procuring weapons and pellets. This is despite the government relaxing norms for importing air weapons.
Haryana's Kriti Sharma had to share an air pistol with five other shooters. "Air weapons for precision target shooting aren't easily available. To train, I have to travel to Rohtak from my home in Karnal regularly," said Kriti, who shot 355 out of 400.
Apart from weapons, shooters also don't have access to modern shooting ranges. Pune, Delhi and Bangalore are the only venues where they can prepare for international events.
Chief national coach, Sunny Thomas, agreed that youngsters shouldn't be neglected and felt there was a need "to build bench strength".
