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‘Ronjan may get Oly wildcard’
The ISSF is having a general body administrative council meeting in Beijing next month and the wildcard issue will be discussed there, reports Saurabh Duggal.
THE NATIONAL Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is hopeful that double trap ace Ronjan Sodhi will get a wildcard for the Beijing Olympics in August. In the event of the Delhi marksman getting the wildcard, he would become the second DT marksman after RVS Rathore to board the flight to Beijing.
The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) would be allotting 30 Olympic wildcards soon. "Ronjan has been shooting well for the last one year and won a World Cup bronze last year. So we will be demanding a wildcard for him," said Baljit Singh Sethi, secretary-general, NRAI.
The ISSF is having a general body administrative council meeting in Beijing next month and the wildcard issue will be discussed there. The allotment of wildcards will take place by May-end. "I am also an ISSF council member, so we will push Ronjan's case at the meeting (April 7 to 12)," said Sethi.
"The first preference is given to countries which have not won even a single quota place. The next to those shooters who are among the best in the their respective events but could not make it to Olympics. Ronjan is currently ranked around 11 in the world and missed the quota twice by a whisker," he said.
If Ronjan gets the wildcard, will he get adequate time to prepare for the Olympics? "He will compete in all the four World Cups before the Olympics and get enough time to practice abroad," he said.
Ronjan said: "I am keeping my fingers crossed… But if I get the wildcard, I will definitely give it my best shot."
Double delight for Sania
Sania Sheikh bagged gold in both the junior and senior skeet events on the penultimate day of the Sardar Sajjan Singh memorable shooting meet. The 14-year-old improved upon her 64 she shot at the Asians with a performance of 67/75.
