-S.Kannan in Hangzhou
BOOM. Has the revolution begun again in Indian shooting? One swallow doesn’t make a summer goes the old saying. But then, the way the Indian marksmen have been pulling the trigger in Hangzhou at the Asian Games over the last few days does suggest a change of tide and fortune.
There are many ghosts from the past in Indian shooting which need to be exorcised. If you talk of the Asian Games, Incheon in 2014 or Palembang in 2018, results were far from satisfactory. Against such a backdrop and top quality field in China, for the youngsters to create ripples is refreshing.
It may be tempting for the shooting lovers to think the revolution has begun and India can win a medal in Paris 2024. That would be wrong hype, really. Yes, minus quota places for the Olympics, the Asian Games may be dull. But if you have seen the results, live or on TV, there is a lot of good which is happening.
Ramita Jindal, Esha Singh, Anantjeet Singh, these are just some of the names who have been grabbing headlines in the last few days, There are some who feel the team event in the Asian Games is a waste. That is not really true because even in the Olympics there are mixed events. Of course, there is nothing like youngsters winning individual medals.
In the past, this writer had been critical of the NRAI establishment. The national sports federation which governs shooting still has a lot of issues to deal with. To say that all is hunky dory would be portraying too rosy a picture. Frankly speaking, these days, minus the Sports Authority of India intervention and the Sports Ministry support, every non-cricket sport would be dead.
Anantjeet was not even sure if he would be on board the flight as the Government was not convinced about the skeet guys doing well in Hangzhou. Not only did Anantjeet win a historic silver, he shared a team bronze with Gurjoat Singh Khangura and Angad Bajwa. There is hope, despite the fact that these boys came here minus foreign coach Ennio Falco. Falco, the overseas coach has been with the Indians off and on. But for him to vanish before the Asian Games was strange.
Also Read: Manu Bhaker wins the mental battle
The story is a bit similar in trap shooting as well, Marcello Dradi, a well-known coach who has “used” India in the past, came and went after just handing out a few coaching lessons. Why is it that the coaches from abroad come and go needs to be looked into. After all, before this, even Russel Mark and his wife Laura left in a huff.
India has to treat the shooting coaches well. In Thomas Farnik, India has a rifle coach who has worked wonders. He used to shoot at the same time as Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang. Today, he has been with the rifle shooters and helped out the men and women. Ramita and company will vouch for it so will Divyansh Singh Panwar.
The Asian Championship will be held next month. It will offer more chances to earn Paris quota spots. In rifle, India already has won five quotas and three more will make it to the maximum. In pistol, despite the Asian Games performance to say that the Indians will win medals in Paris is being too bold. The Asian Championship will offer pointers, though someone like Esha Singh is not in a hurry.
What about Manu Bhaker? The girl seems in trouble and this is not the first time. In Tokyo, there was an air pistol malfunction. It went bust there. On Wednesday, in the final, she lost her rhythm when “empties” from the shooter in the next lane, a Chinese, disturbed her concentration. Manu has preferred to go back to her former coach Jaspal Rana, even though the NRAI and SAI are against it. In every sport, if an athlete is not happy with the national coach, he or she must have a choice. Does not PV Sindhu pick and choose or did not Saina Nehwal select her coach?
This kind of an issue must be answered by the NRAI which must be seen as shooter friendly.
Shooters today are aware the NRAI selection policy is very, very taxing. Winning a quota place means nothing. In 2024, the NRAI will again have trials and then decide. Talent is there in plenty in India. From here on, the junior programme must be nurtured well so that they can mesh well with the seniors.
The national squad needs to have more breathing space. Right now, there is too much pressure of expectation. Competitions and repeated trials can be taxing and result in burnout. Oh yes, the NRAI still does not have an elected president after the term of Raninder Singh ended in 2022. Kalikesh Singh Deo is only there as the senior vice president. So what we need it a settled structure. For shooters and administrators. Results are proof, we can do well. And a settled look will only add to India’s chances in Paris. For the moment, in Hangzhou, the hope is only growing.
Also Read: Indian shooting makes a comeback with Esha’s silver bullet