Axing shooting from next CWG will harm young shooters: Jitu

New Delhi, April 18

Impressed with the performance of the Indian shooting contingent in Gold Coast, ace marksman Jitu Rai is worried about the adverse effect that the non-inclusion of the sport in the 2022 Birmingham Games will have on young talents.  “We win a lot of medals in shooting (at the CWGs). Look at the kids who are doing so well and they will only do better as they go along. So it saddens me that shooting won’t be part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games. It will affect young medal prospects of our country,” said Jitu.

“But it is not in our hands. We can only shoot and that is what we are doing. Whether to include the sport or not is in the hands of government (organisers). But I am still hopeful that it would be included,” he said.

Asked if he agrees with the demand of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to boycott the Birmingham Games if shooting is excluded, Rai gave a defensive answer. “If NRAI has said, then it is right. I agree with it. If they are removing one sport, then boycott the Games completely because we are doing so well in this sport. We were winning so many medals in shooting. I support the NRAI and government.” 

The gold medallist in the men’s 10m air pistol with record score is happy with his showing but the flop show at the Rio Olympics still rankles. “When you get result for your hard work, that feeling is priceless. So I am very happy. I know it will never replace the pain of the Rio Olympics disappointment and I don’t even think about it anymore but it does charge me up to do well in future,” Rai said. — PTI