"We waste energy in trying to fight the system"

JASPAL RANA at 23 is among the few Indian sportspersons to have won laurels and medals for the country. He received the highest sports honour, the Arjuna Award in 1994. At the XII Asian Games held at Hiroshima he had won a gold and set a new Asian record by scoring 588 out of 600. In the recently concluded XII Asian Games at Bangkok he had to be content with a silver and a bronze and was dissatisfied with his performance. In fact bad luck dogged him as the trigger of his pistol snapped.

Belu Maheshwari interviewed Jaspal Singh at his Malviya Nagar residence in Delhi. He was wearing just a white T-shirt and shorts even in January’s cold. He looked groggy and sleepy at 10.30 a.m. in the morning as he had just got up. People had been waiting for him even before he woke up. One person wanted him to be the chief guest at a function. Another wanted him to become a patron of an organisation.

The whole house seemed to be geared towards Jaspal’s needs. There is a shooting range on the roof, and another one inside the drawing-dining room, with the wires running over the seating area. The walls are lined with his photographs with celebrities and leaders, one is with Mother Teresa blessing him. Then on another wall the national flag was pinned. There was a glass case which held his medals. His young and pretty wife flitted around, taking phone messages, finding his CV and photos, she has also taken a fancy to this sport. The whole family, including Jaspal’s father, younger brother and sister are into the sport. Jaspal came across as a young, brash, person who enjoys adventure and fun.

You seem to be an angry young man who is trying to fight the corrupt sports authorities.

I want to shoot, my aim is to win more medals for my country but when I encounter hurdles and high-handedness from the Sports Ministry it makes my blood boil. It is not corruption that I am fighting but the apathy towards sportspersons.

You minced no words in criticising the sports officials after the just concluded XIII Asian Games. What triggered off the outburst?

I had sent in an application asking for an import license to purchase a pistol I was to use for the Games. I have a thick file, of the ministries’ objections, my replies, rejoinders and so forth. They treat us like terrorists or goons who will use the pistol for crime. I was purchasing the pistol, it was not to be given free by the sports ministry. I had got the clearance from my federation. After I made a big hue and cry, they have written to me saying that I could go and collect the license. One wastes much energy in India, trying to fight the system.

Was it anger which made you say that you would migrate to another country if the Sports Ministry did not improve its functioning?

I did not make the statement of migrating to another country either in anger or on the spur of the moment. Many countries would welcome me, if my country treats me shabbily and does not recognise the necessity of sports for the growth of a nation why should I waste myself here.

What are the other grievances, besides not getting an import license for a pistol, that you have?

In my game, the sport officials can not play favourites because ours is number of shots on target game. If they do not like your face, they cannot throw you out. Anyone who is good cannot be overlooked. I am fighting for better shooting ranges and better facilities. In Bangkok, we were the worst-equipped sportspersons. Our track-suits did not reach us. There was mismanagement all round.

Are you against politicians and bureaucrats overlooking the work of sports federation? Should these only be manned by sportspersons?

My federation is one of the best run in the country. We have had a very good, helpful President, even Baljit Singh Sethi is helpful. I am not saying change the whole system. Even the Prime Minister cannot do so in India. What, I feel, can be done is to have a sportsperson as technical director. He should be given powers in the federations. Since he knows the game, he can make a great contribution.

Do you try to help others in your game, popularise it?

I used to coach at Siri Fort, we were running a shooting range there but it has been taken over by the Delhi government and as usual nothing is happening now. I am very open about youngsters coming and practising in my house or if they need advise I am always there.

How did you start shooting?

My father was in the ITBP. He was posted at Mussoorie. I have grown up with weapons. When I was barely seven or eight, I had learnt to handle, dismantle and clean them. I fired my first shot when I was 10 years old. When shifted to ?Delhi, I took to shooting in earnest. My father encouraged me and within a year, I knew I wanted to make it my life.

At what age should youngsters start shooting? Generally, parents are scared of letting their children take to shooting as a game.

Youngsters should start at while they are seven or eight years old. Parents should let their wards start with an Air pistol, because it is harmless. It can teach them to target. In other countries, coaching starts in right earnest at an early age. Children should be taught to handle weapons so that accidents do not occur.

Can shooting as a game provide bread and butter? Is it easy to get sponsors?

Cricket is popular only in Commonwealth countries, while in other countries rifle or pistol shooting is accorded a higher status. If you are good, you can get sponsors. JCT have been sponsoring me from my third year onwards. They are good to me and I owe them a lot. Not only the top, even number ten can get sponsorship. It is a myth, that it is an expensive game. Except for a one-time investment on the weapon, there is not much expense. The air pellets are about Rs 240 for 500. It is not more expensive than most games.

The popularity of the game is rising. Last year for the inter-school championship, there were 700 participants, while a few years back you could count them on your hands. Young ones are becoming more adventurous. Now you have so many sponsors for the game — Indian Airlines, Railways, the BSF, and CRPF, etc.

How many hours of practice are needed?

There is no limit to practise. Like studying, hours alone do not matter. You should practise with concentration. I reach Tughlakabad range by 9.30 a.m. and then take a break for lunch and siesta. Again, I practise till 5 p.m. It is like a proper job, there is no let-up.

Why do most sportspersons in India have a grouse against cricket?

I do not have a grouse against cricket, I like watching cricket. It is being played in the country for decades. Compared to them, wwe are new comers on the scene. We will have our time. In India we have to understand that there are other games also. The media should highlight the achievements in other games as well. Cricket has so much money, in spite of that what happened in the Commonwealth Games, they have not been able to muster two A grade teams. Olympics and Asian Games matter in the world which does not have cricket as an event. We need to concentrate on other games such as boxing and athletics.

What needs to be done in order to improve the standard of sports in the country?

Even Pakistan and Bangladesh have a better budget for sports. China had a 1000 crore budget for the Asiad. Their sportsmen do not have to bother about sponsors, and they are looked after. We have to look after every thing ourselves. In Germany, the budget for sports is more than that for health. They feel if citizens play, they will stay fit and will not need medical facilities. We need to spend more on sports. Ours is not even one per cent. We should popularise sports in schools. We are becoming couch potatoes. Children just sit and watch TV. This should be discouraged.

When you are competing with Pakistan, do you experience an animosity towards them?

We are competitors, just like it with any other country, off the field we are friends. In fact we get along really well as we have a lot in common. The emotions are only heightened in cricket and hockey. In these games it is no longer a game being played, it is war.

What are the qualities of a good sportsman?

A good sportsperson will help his teammates and not get embroiled in politics. He will depend on rising by the dirt of his own efforts and learn to lose with equanimity. When you are just winning, it is easy to smile but losing should not break the spirit, it should spur you on to do better.

What are the attributes needed to become a good shooter, is a coach essential?

You definitely need a coach, my father N.S. Rana helps me. I have two coaches, one of them is Sunny Thomas and the other one is an Australian, Tibor Gonczen. To be a good shooter you need to practise. One has to be the most selfish person while shooting and block out everything else. Concentration is very important, yoga helps in building up concentration. You need to work throughout the year and not just a month before the competition. Physically you have to be fit.

What are the other things that you like in life besides shooting? What are your future plans?

I enjoy life, I work hard and play well. I am fond of photography it is another kind of shooting. I like phographing wildlife. I also like fast cars and good weapons. I want to continue competing for sometime and then open an academy to coach youngsters.