S.Kannan in Chatearoux
The National Rifle Association of India is already celebrating the three medals won in Paris 2024. After the failures in Rio 2016 and the Tokyo Olympics, Paris 2024 has been a fresh beginning, yet a lot needs to be done. What stands out is how personal coaches have fared exceedingly well while national coaches, plus some foreign coaches have done little.
It was a good decision that the Government of India finally cleared many of the ‘private coaches’ after the early initiative had been taken by the Indian Olympic Association. Across disciplines, pistol, rifle and shotgun, private coaches were in demand. That is a clear sign that the foreign coaches and those with a tag of national coach had failed to deliver. In two days, the foreign pistol coach, Munkhbayar Dorjsuren will be flying back to Munich. Her contract ends with these Olympics. Obviously, she did not even bother to check if her contract would be renewed as pistol shooters chose their own coaches. From Manu Bhaker to Sarabjot Singh, both Olympic medallists had insisted on their personal coaches – Jaspal Rana and Abhishek Rana.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
On Monday, Anish Bhanwala and Vijayveer Sidhu will compete in a rapid-fire pistol event. These two boys are also using the services of personal coaches, Gurpreet Singh and Harpreet Singh. This is a nice trend that shooters want their own coaches to maximise potential and it has been accepted by people in power. Someone like PT Usha, the Indian Olympic Association President and even the Sports Authority of India have acknowledged the importance of how a shooter needs to feel comfortable. Manu Bhaker has said repeatedly in interviews, how much coach Jaspal Rana has helped her in her journey.
There have been unlucky coaches as well, for Deepali Deshpande, who mentored Swapnil Kushale, bronze medal winner in 3P rifle event and Arjun Babuta stayed back in India. “I am happy the shooters I trained did well. For me, travelling to Europe and then the final destination in Chateauroux was not important,” Deepali told RevSportz. Had she travelled with the team, maybe Arjun Babuta would not have finished fourth and one more medal would have come. This needs to be discussed now, as coaches’ contract renewals will begin soon for the next Olympics cycle. Perhaps, the NRAI and the SAI need to sit together and plan for the 2026 Asian Games, leading up to Los Angeles 2028.
Even though India have not done well in shotgun events in Paris 2024, personal coaches are a trend. Yes, the Government of India has spent money on their travel, though some have worked “free of cost” like Jaspal. No professional does work for charity and the NRAI has to now take up a review of many important decisions ahead.
For all those who follow shooting, the selection policy for these Olympics was a big change. Four trials held in New Delhi and Bhopal showed the shooters were being tested to the hilt. Those who made the cut on the basis of the selection policy are happy. After all, due to the selection trials, Manu made it to three events and competed in three matches. Two medals and one fourth place finish, she acknowledges the trials were a great window of opportunity for her. At least in one area, the NRAI making a few changes and implementing a tight selection policy has clicked.
Most shooters RevSportz spoke to feel there can be more changes as well. How the NRAI is going to move forward is important. To spend on coaches is good but if foreign coaches have been below par, the wastage of tax-payers’ money needs to be explained. Three medals from the shooting ranges in Paris 2024 is brilliant, after the flop shows in Rio and Tokyo. However, a lot more planning needs to be done. And that should start just after the celebrations end when Manu returns to New Delhi later this week.
Also Read: Simone Biles’ return from Tokyo lows as inspirational as her matchless gymnastics skills