NRAI president Raninder calls out factionalism in shooting squad

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 7

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has warned its coaches of severe action should they indulge in any “immature” tiff amongst each other that may affect the performances or mental state of the shooters who will represent the country at the Tokyo Olympics.

NRAI president Raninder Singh in a detailed letter to the pistol coaches has reminded all the coaches that the most important reason for all of them, including the federation, was to support the athletes achieve their Olympics dream.

Raninder wrote the letter on May 29 in which he has assigned shooters to specific coaches and has also spelled out ‘dos and don’ts’ for them regarding their interactions with shooters who have not been assigned to them.

Calling the tiffs between them as petty and egoistical nonsense, Raninder has asked the coaches to not yell or squabble but control their temper during the run-up to the Summer Olympics.

It is to be noted that reputed coach Jaspal Rana and ace pistol shooter Manu Bhaker had a big falling out during the ISSF World Cup earlier this year. The NRAI president tried to mediate twice to sort the matter out but once Manu refused to train under the famed coach he had to assign Ronak Pandit to assist the teen sensation.

The NRAI president was unavailable for comments. While it was open knowledge, the letter makes it clear that Pandit will coach Manu till at least the Tokyo Games. Rana will have only Abhishek Verma under his wings, while Ved Prakash and Samresh Jung have been asked to help out Rahi Sarnobat and Saurabh Chaudhary. Additionally, Pavel Smirnov and Samresh will help out Yashaswini Singh Deswal.

Warning

The NRAI president has also told the coaches to avoid snide and hurtful comments that may impact the shooters. Raninder said that he was appalled at the factionalism and egoistical approach of the coaches and warned some of them to avoid the habit of using the media to deride any of the young shooters.

Neeraj reaches Portugal, to compete on June 10

New Delhi: Olympics-bound star Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra has reached Portugal to take part in an event in Lisbon on June 10, which will mark his return to international competition after more than a year. Chopra hasn’t taken part in any international event after qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics in January last year in South Africa reached Lisbon on Sunday. He will compete at the Meeting Cidade de Lisboa (Meeting, City of Lisbon) on June 10 at Lisbon University Stadium. “We are trying for other events also, including the Karlstad Grand Prix in Sweden on June 22,” a source said. PTI