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NRAI bows to Abhinav Bindra
19 January 2010. The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) succumbed to pressure on Monday when it decided to consider Abhinav Bindra for the third and fourth World Cup teams on the basis of his scores in recent international tournaments.
The decision is certainly a victory for Bindra , India ’s only individual Olympic gold medalist, who is against the idea of appearing for domestic trials every time the national team is selected for major international meets.
The ace rifle shooter, however, won’t be in the team for the Commonwealth Shooting Championships to be held in New Delhi and the first two World Cups.
Even though the Union Sports Ministry has now stepped in Bindra will not compete in the event.
"They have selected a team now. It would be unfair for those who have been selected in the team. I am a sports person and it would be the wrong thing to do," says Bindra.
NRAI's insistence on all shooters to compete in trials on an almost quarterly basis is the bone of contention.
Top shooters have backed Bindra and have said that it is insane to leave their specifically designed training programmes and shoot for trials.
India ’s three-member air rifle team consists of Gagan Narang, Sanjeev Rathore and P.T. Raghunath.
While the Commonwealth championships is from February 17, the first and the second World Cups are in Sydney (March 19 to 28) and Beijing (April 15 to 28), respectively.
The third World Cup is in Fort Benning in the US from May 22 followed by another World Cup in Belgrade from June 23.
"I am headed off to Germany in a few days. I will meet and discuss with my core team whom I trust as to what I want to do in the future," says Bindra.
Even Usain Bolt's manager has said that he would only participate at the Delhi Commonwealth Games if it suits his training schedule.
The same professional and scientific approach though seems lacking in India's shooting bosses. indianshooting.com
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