Indians For Guns

No men's skeet team for World Championships

Navneet Singh
New Delhi, July 23

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) selection committee was point blank while selecting the national squad for the upcoming ISSF Shotgun World Championships in Cyprus. Taking into view the pathetic performance of the men's skeet team, it has dropped the squad altogether from Nicosia championships beginning September 1.

"No skeet shooter in the men's category will be representing the country in Cyprus," said NRAI secretary-general Baljeet Singh Sethi. "We had to arrive at this decision after taking into account the just-concluded trials (between July 15 and 20) and giving them sufficient chance to participate in a series of World cup competitions. We found their performance not up to the mark. They finished at the bottom in all competitions they participated in," added Sethi.

In the trials held here at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges, A.D. Peoples shot 117 and 113 to top the table. While Mairaj Khan, the upcoming shooter, scored 114 and 116 to finish second. Mairaj was followed by PS Bedi who had the scores of 108 and 110. Naveen Jindal finished seventh out of 12 competitors in the trials. His scores were 103 and 110. At the world level you need to shoot at least 120 to be in contention.

Also, in the last two World Cups that Mairaj had participated in, he finished way down, with scores of 104 and 110, respectively. National record holder Jindal, too, failed to repeat his home performance and finished 85th and 94th in the Italy and Slovenia editions of the World Cups. His scores were 113 and 102. Peoples finished 89th in Slovenia with the scores of 107.

However, the selection committee gave its nod to the lone woman skeet shooter Aarti Singh Rao. She didn't take part in the trials, but her past performance was taken into account for selection, said an NRAI official. Though the skeet shooters could not find favour with the selection committee this time, it is not curtains for them, said Sethi. "All these top skeet shooters will be considered for the camps when we prepare for international events in the future," he added.

Besides Aarti, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was another absentee at the trials as he had been training abroad. He is part of the double trap team will be represent the country in Cyprus. However, some of the top shooters, including Birendeep Singh Sodhi, Anwer Sultan and Moraad Ali Khan who have been woefully out of form, could not make it to the team.

The world meet in terms of competition as well as in winning the Olympics quota places will be a tough proposition. In all, there are five quota positions up for grabs, including two in the women's group. There is one quota place each in men's trap event, double trap and skeet. Skeet and trap in the women section also have a quota place.

SQUAD: Men: Manavjit Singh Sandhu, Mansher Singh, Zoravar Singh (all trap); Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Ronjan Singh Sodhi, Vikram Chopra (all double trap) Women: Skeet: Aarti Singh Rao

Achieving a good score requires a lot of other factors going in your favour.

The heat factor, the wind speed and direction on a particular day, the brand and quality of cartridges being used.

For a good score participants must be given the same cartridges that are going to be used in the competion. Speed of a cartridge does matter.

Luckily in this case, the Victory Chepak being sold to shooters at Karni Singh range these days will be the cartridge at Cyprus. It is made in Cyprus by an enthusiastic and very professional group of shooters.

In the heat when temperatures soae ove 40 C it is better to use 9 1/2 instead of 9.

If Indian shooters were in the region of 117 to 114, I would not call it bad score.

Sheikh Saeed and the UAE skeet team who practise here about 5 days a week from 3 PM to 4.30 PM when temperatures are still over 40 also bag similar scores on most practise rounds. 22/23 per round is the norm.

Sheikh Saeed scores 25 in a few rounds but as the exposure to heat lingers scores drop to 20 hits per round.

The UAE team is practiseing with Italian RC4 cartridges. If they shoot with Victory they will have to catching up to do.

To improve the scores NRAI must invest in a good coach a physco analysist and a physical trainer / massuer for the team to keep them motivated and fit.

Mental focus is the key thing.

Before the trials how many practise rounds and training rounds were awarded. Was the skeet machine functioning properly in the heat and not jamming. Were the targets flying through the ring or were they disoriented. Were there too many no birds ? It can effect the final score.

These scores are fine. THe Indian team should participate at Cyprus. NRAI must help them with team support staff and sponsorships.

Competition shooting is a full time profession now. Private corporate sponsorship is a must. These guys are medal prospects thus a part of BCCI income must be divered here. Are the Saharas, Tatas, Releance and Aditya Birlas being tapped for sponsorship ?

A medal prospect will end up giving up his other careers for shooting sports. Is the Government, NRAI and our corporates ready to support them ?