NRAI to change policy for Olympic team

IndianShooting Exclusive

May 11. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) is contemplating to change its policy for Olympic participation. With the beginning of the next competitive season in 2010 that also offers Olympic quota places, the federation is likely to take a decision on the issue. “We are thinking on the lines of changing our policy for sending shooters to the Olympics,” said NRAI secretary general Baljeet Singh Sethi recently. Indicating that only in-form shooters will represent the country in the quadrennial games. “At least six months before the games, selection trials will be held to finalise the squad,” he added.

To steer clear of any controversy, the federation is expected to take a decision much before the qualification rounds begin in 2010. Incidentally, the first round of Olympic qualification--World Cup will be held on the Indian soil. The NRAI, says Sethi will make an official announcement, prior to the commencement of quota place competition - “So that there is no ambiguity on the issue,” he said.

 

Quota Places

As per rule of the international body, quota places are given to the country and not individual shooters. Hence, it is the prerogative of the federation to allot the Olympic quota to a shooter whom it thinks is a medal prospect. In the past, irrespective of the fitness and performance of the shooters, the federation had stuck to its policy of sending players who actually won quota places.

 

Beijing Games

The issue is debated only once in four years, that too, close to the games; and not otherwise. In 2008, among nine shooters who had won quota places, barring one or two shooters, others were not in top form. Since the federation had not made any official announcement on the quota places, it gave a green signal to all the nine shooters to represent the country.

Ronjan Sodhi would have replaced Athens Olympic silver medallist - in double trap - Rajyavardhan Rathore. A few weeks prior to Olympics, Sodhi had shot a world record in double trap, but had to sit out and watch the games from home. It also robbed rifle shooters Suma Shirur and PT Ragunath who were in great form then, to board the flight to Beijing.

 

Bindra V/S NRAI

So what initiated NRAI to think on the lines of changing its existing policy?? Perhaps, few top shooters taking liberty of the federation’s policy.The recent outburst of Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra, that he will not attend the national camps, proved to be the last straw. Recently, the federation had decided to exclude top shooters, not-in-good form, from the national preparatory camp for international competitions. “Top shooters in poor form will not be entertained,” Sethi had said. Perhaps his strong stand didn’t go well with Bindra, at least. “I haven’t attended the camp in the past, and will not do so in the future as well. NRAI can give space to others, I am not averse to the idea,” Bindra was quoted as saying in some of the newspapers the day after the federation had said they want to replace someone in place of Bindra.

Before the Beijing games, there was a debate whether to allow shooters who have won quota places for the country to represent the nation or give chance to those whose current performances were good. Then many shooters also pleaded their case with the ministry saying their performance is better than those shooters who are to represent the country in the Olympics. But the federation did not budge, saying it cannot change its Olympic selection procedure at the eleventh hour!! This time they have ample time in hand!!