Positive effects of Abinavs Beijing gold medal

[msandhu]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Citi ... 358661.cms


CHANDIGARH: Call it the Abhinav Effect. In the 24 hours since the shooter shot for gold at the Beijing Olympics, 65 air rifles have flown off shelves from just one shop in Chandigarh. ( Watch )

Fresh orders have been placed for 50 more and there has been, according to happy faced attendants at Ahuja Arms Company, telephone queries from about three dozen anxious parents, excited children tugging at their sleeves for the latest must-have.

"Our stock has exhausted," said a beaming Ravi Ahuja from Ahuja Arms Company, the region's sole distributor of air rifles recommended for shooting.

"Last Friday we received 68 pieces of such rifles from Ahmedabad but with Abhinav winning gold, we have already sold 65. We anticipate a huge interest in the sport. In 2007, we sold close to 1,000 rifles. This year till July 31 we sold 400, but in the four months from now we are looking at about 2,000."

Attending back-to-back calls Ravi Ahuja, who is also general secretary of Chandigarh Arms Dealers Association, added,
"The phones haven't stopped ringing. Right from dealers to individual buyers the queries are piling up. Dealers are calling up from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and are demanding rifles in a big way. Now we have placed bulk orders with an Ahmedabad-based manufacturing unit to supply us more rifles."

Overnight the local boy's win, India's first individual gold in 112 years, seems to have woken up an entire region, maybe even the whole country, to shooting – not a sport that tops the popularity chart, what with its prohibitive costs and lack of interest in the media.

No wonder Gurpreet Bhandari from Bhandari Gun House is gung-ho. "We haven't done too badly either," she said, grinning widely. "In one day we have sold 10 rifles and received 15 queries. It is amazing that even five-year-old kids, accompanied by their parents of course, are talking about shooting. Sale has increased tenfold for us and we have just asked for another 50 air rifles from a Kolkata manufacturer."

At Ludhiana, Satwant Singh Garewal of the Garewal Gun House said the change has been both immediate and drastic. "Till now we used to sell 20 guns a month, but now I am anticipating to sell at least 50."

While the Indian brands on display and sale are SDB Guns, Tommy, Aimco and National, all coming for about Rs 3,000, the German Diana, at Rs 25,000, is also being picked up.

Both varieties are .22 bore air rifles, needing no licence.

Abhinav apparently spent over Rs 1 crore last year in training, but in flush-with-funds Punjab that would hardly be a deterrent for hundreds of families. "We certainly would like to expose our kids to this sport," said Sangeeta Bhargava, a mother of two, 9 and 14, as she ran her fingers over the barrel of a Diana.

The younger one, Ramit, is a national under-nine squash champion. Ecstatic Pretty Verma, a public relation consultant, said,"My boy is fascinated with the gun. I won't mind at all if he wants to pursue the sport." Neither would seven-year-old Arush. Glued to news channels, he squealed, "Every body is talking about Abhinav bhaiya and all are giving him money."

There is talk of upgrading infrastructure at the Chandigarh shooting range and Vijay Pal Singh, general secretary, Chandigarh Rifle Association, says the government will provide opportunity to youngsters by way of competitions and training.

"The administration would upgrade the Patiali-ki-Rao shooting range and set up an academy here." He knows that the prize for hitting bull's eye, unlike in the England of 1890s, is no more a leg of mutton bought by the losing team.

[to_saptarshi]

Indian manufacturers now should concentrate on making .177 Caliber as well, The choice among Indian brand is only limited to IHP now, Though the quality are still best among all other Indian brand, but who knows this craze might interest other Indian makers to build quality rifle even if the price goes a little bit high.

Regards
Saptarshi

[msandhu]

I hope this euphoria about this sport does not die down when the cricket season starts . This is golden time to promote shooting as a sport and ask the govt. to promote it through its resources.
Cheers
Mandeep

[badshah0522]

Wish victory would have also included any of them - Trap /Skeet / 50 mtr /25 mtr events...may be Govt. could start thinking about the grant of import Lic. and availblity of Ammo.

[sitar]

badshah you are right

as far as import is concern Govt should grant permession at least for .22

[tutsamewasa]

Well Yes I thought of a great after effect after Abhinav winning Gold. Atleast for the SARKARI BABUS to have some sense now.
All media celibrating a 112 years history. And when the Golden Boy returns home not a single govt official is there at airport.

Still hoping - must be a day dream.

Yes for Gun dealers it is a dog day for sure.

[OverUnderPump]

All media celibrating a 112 years history. And when the Golden Boy returns home not a single govt official is there at airport.

Good !! At-least the sycophants realized that they haven't contributed to his success and didn't want to make it look like a farce. Not that he would care much anyways, saved him some time at the airport.

regards

OUP

[HydNawab]

Forget about the Govt helping shooters out with anything.If you want to shoot, then get your own gun and your own ammo.

The Hyderabad District Rifle Association is organizing their annual shooting competition is shotgun, air rifle and rifle from 12th Aug to 16th Aug. The Sports Authority of AP (SAAP) has asked for Rs.90,000 from the association as rent for the competition.The association had to pay.

And more over, the trap range machines were not being maintained by the SAAP and every time there was rainfall, the operating room used to fill up with water.When this was informed to the MD 2 days before the competition, he replied that shooters had not paid for the machines and they do not need to bother about what is being maintained and waht is not.

If this is the attitude of the officials, then good luck for London 2012 shooters!

Ashar

[sitar]

All media celibrating a 112 years history. And when the Golden Boy returns home not a single govt official is there at airport.

Good !! At-least the sycophants realized that they haven't contributed to his success and didn't want to make it look like a farce. Not that he would care much anyways, saved him some time at the airport.

regards

OUP

damn good

[MoA]

I do expect Abhinav's Gold to have a positive effect on shooting in general in India.

However the reality remains...

You cant develop an Olympic team unless both guns and ammo are available. Personally I think Lt. Col. Rathore's poor showing is primarily due to the lack of ammo.

The day India will have come of age in shooting is the day when they win the world Bench Rest 1000 yard open.

[cyrixoutside]

"The day India will have come of age in shooting is the day when they win the world Bench Rest 1000 yard open."

that may happen sometime during the next 1000 years !!!

rajat