The Hindu : Sport / Shooting : Delay in grants for Olympic shooters

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Saturday, Dec 29, 2007
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Delay in grants for Olympic shooters

Principal Correspondent

JAIPUR: India’s shooting hopefuls for the Olympics in Beijing may ultimately have to start their preparations for the quadrennial Games on funds from other sources, as the Union Government is yet to sanction the required grant for the nine quota holders.

“It is already late in the day but I hope to get the funds in time so that I can start my preparations for Olympics,” said the double trap marksman Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore.

Though the Athens Olympic silver medallist did not spell out in detail what he intended to do if the grant did not come on time, there is a general discontent with the way Sports Ministry has been delaying the grant.

“My plan is to start my Olympic preparations in January in the U.S. to fine-tune my technique and get used to the ammunition that will be used in Beijing,” said Rathore. Rathore plans to spend at least two months in the U.S. before returning home to embark on the crucial World Cups.

“The World Cup in Beijing in April is the one that I am eager to shoot at. That is the Olympic range, with a green hill in the backdrop and I haven’t shot there so far. So it will help,” said Rathore.

NRAI’s look-out

But, with the grant still to be dispensed, it will be on the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to arrange for the funds and also the ammunition.

“We have exhausted most of our ammunition and, given the pace with which the Government works, it would be difficult to import it in time with the usual procedure,” said the NRAI Secretary-General Baljit Singh Sethi.

Also, the NRAI has received no word from the Sports Ministry about the funds for the training and preparation of the Olympic quota holders.

“The Government has asked us to import ammunition and arrange for funds, but the NRAI does not have import license so far,” said Mr. Sethi. He said that the NRAI had been asked to go ahead with the training schedule and that the Government would pay later.

“That doesn’t solve our problem. How much should we spend on the shooters, there are no guidelines,” said Mr. Sethi.

“Olympics are just seven months from now and we are put in such a situation where the NRAI is expected to do everything while the Government is taking its own time in sanctioning the funds,” he added.

The 2008 World Cups will start in April and the most crucial would be the one in Bejing where the Olympic range will be on test.

Rathore was more categorical. “Funds should come anytime now otherwise our entire schedule will go haywire,” he said. “We have to reach venues well in advance and get used to the conditions to be able to perform at par with the other top shooters,” said Rathore, after winning the double trap gold in the National shotgun championship here on Thursday.

The medal came as a morale booster for Rathore, who had a string of disappointing performances in the World meets.

“I am quite confident that my preparation for the Olympic Games is right on track. I motivated and am hopeful that I will do better in the Beijing Games,” said Rathore.

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