Even though this was a mini-election of sorts, Kalikesh Singh Deo had to fight a hard battle to defeat VK Dhall 36-21 to become President of the National Rifle Association of India in the Capital on Saturday. The term is till 2025. What this also means is, Kalikesh, who was deputy chef de mission of the Indian shooting contingent in Chateauroux for the Paris 2024 Olympics can focus on what needs to be done in the next Olympic cycle, leading up to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
After winning the election, Kalikesh outlined his plans. “We intend to take shooting forward and my priority would be to ensure new high-performance centres come up,” said Kalikesh. The immediate job he has on his hands is to ensure the ISSF World Cup finals in New Delhi next month is held well. That apart, with the world shooting body (ISSF) already coming up with dates for major events in the 2025 calendar, planning for the same has to begin new.
For those who are still celebrating India winning three medals from shooting courtesy Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and Swapnil Kushale, the NRAI will take credit for the medals. After two Olympic campaigns went bust in Rio in 2016 and Tokyo, three years ago, for India to make a burst at Paris 2024 was defining. Rewind to a year back, India had done well at the Asian Games as well in Hangzhou and clinched 22 medals. There is a big difference between winning medals in the Asian Games and Olympics, but at least a beginning was made.
Looking ahead, there is no time to be wasted. The NRAI got through with its felicitation function for the shooters three weeks ago and most of them have resumed training. Those who have been named to represent India in the ISSF World Cup finals are also back in training, though Manu has opted out.
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A look at the way the NRAI has set up a continuous policy of trials, competitions and then the OST – Olympic Selection Trials – it is clear the planning done for the same was different for Paris 2024. The President will and should take credit for it, as he is the man who has to answer the people who are pumping money into the sport, which is primarily the Indian government. A few NGOs will come forward and want to take credit, but that should be avoided. Crores of rupees are spent on shooting and the NRAI has to account for it.
Where there can be more synergy, which Kalikesh will address, is in setting up more high performance centres, integration among coaches and formulating a more refined selection policy. Rewind to May 2024, when the Olympic trials began in the heat in New Delhi and shifted to Bhopal, it was gruelling. However, all those who shot the trials were happy they got a chance. If not, Manu would not have made it to three events – air pistol, mixed event and sports pistol for Paris 2024. The same goes for Anjum Moudgil, who had also not won a quota place but made the cut through the trials.
When Kalikesh Singh spoke to this writer at Chateauroux during the Olympics, he was clear. The junior development programme, which had been initiated by the NRAI over a decade ago, had produced results. This is the right time to revive it and at the same time ensure fresh talent is tapped into. There are any number of pistol and rifle shooters who take up the air event and come to the trials and compete without fear.
Last but not the least. Kalikesh Singh will do well to ensure the best coaches are on board. The fetish for high performance directors from abroad and foreign coaches has not been very beneficial. Coaches from home like Jaspal Rana, Deepali Deshpande, Abhishek Rana plus a few more are also working for the sport. Last but not the least, Gagan Narang’s ‘Gun For Glory’ centres are also involved in the sport very closely.
The good part about Kalikesh winning the elections is he can focus on the job ahead. He did a good job as the deputy chef de mission and can even win another term for four years when elections are again held in 2025.
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