The Hindu : Sport / Asian Games : Shooters eye gold

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Saturday, Dec 02, 2006
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Sport - Asian Games

Shooters eye gold

Special Correspondent

DOHA: It is literally an oasis in the desert. As you drive, snaking through a vast expanse of sand on the highway to the Lusail Shooting Complex, it is a breathtaking experience to see a world-class facility, perhaps ready to witness world-class performances in the 15th Asian Games.

Can the crack Indian shooters open India's account with a gold on the opening day of the competition?

Though World champion Abhinav Bindra will be missed in air rifle, Gagan Narang is capable of emerging the best in the current field.

"We have been training well, and I am looking forward to a good performance,'' said Gagan after a final stint of training.

With World junior champion Navnath Faratade struggling to strike the form that had seen him shoot a 596 out of 600 on way to the gold in Zagreb, and P.T. Raghunath not in the same class as Gagan or Abhinav, it may be difficult for the Indian men's air rifle team to assert itself.

Reserves not allowed

"The organisers did not allow the four reserves in rifle and pistol who were scheduled to be part of the contingent as per the ISSF rules. The government had cleared them and their tickets were also ready. They could not get the visa as the hosts refused to entertain them despite persuasion till the last minute,'' said coach Prof. Sunny Thomas.

The women's air rifle team, with world record holder and Olympic finalist Suma Shirur along with World championship finalist Avneet Kaur Sidhu and the Commonwealth Games double gold medallist Tejaswini Sawant, should be able to prove its class.

Yet, none would be starting as the favourite as strongly as the reigning trap World champion, Manavjit Singh Sandhu. Manav was his confident self at the range, which had a pleasant atmosphere thanks to a cool breeze following a sharp spell of shower, a rare luxury in these parts.

The Indian men's trap team of Mansher Singh, Anwer Sultan and Manav had shot a silver in the World championship. It is easily the best in the region and holds the Asian record of 360 out of 375.

Prof. Thomas felt that the shooting contingent was capable of returning with five medals.

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