20 February 2010. The Union Sports Ministry cash incentive policy for outstanding sportspersons of the country who win medals in the international tournaments including the Olympics and Asian Games, drew flak today from the shooting community.

The sports ministry recently informed the shoters that they will not be getting the cash incentives for their medals at the last two Asian Air Gun Championshis.

Critising the policy for not recognizing performance in the Asian Air Gun Championships and at the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) World Cups, which are four in number in one calendar year, world record holder Gagan Narang said that both these tournaments are very important and the World Cup is a global level competition which features more than 50 nations.

The competition in the World Cups, says Gagan, is as tough as Olympics. "All countries field top shooters. The field is very competitive. It is not that easy to win a medal in the World Cup," said Gagan on the sideline of the ongoing Commonwealth Shooting Championship.

Gagan who claimed his second gold medal of the meet today, said he is clueless about the policy that has exempted merit of World Cup tourney from its agenda. "Since we aren’t getting any prize money for winning medals in these competitions, it is as good as not existing in the government policy," he said.

Last year, Gagan along with pistol shooters Heena Sidhu and Vijay Kumar had an excellent run in the World Cups. The shooters had a podium finish too. " I have just got warm hand shakes for winning all the medals at the ISSF World Cups" added Narang.

Apart from ignoring efforts in the World Cups, shooters participating in the Commonwealth Shooting Championship were also upset over the delay in giving cash awards to the deserving players. "The money comes after two years or more. It should be given as early as possible so that it encourages novice to work more hard to reach a high level," said one of the top shooter.

It is also learnt that country’s top shooters wanted to protest against the government policy on the inauguration day of the Commonwealth meet, but on the intervention of National coach Sunny Thomas, didn’t raise the issue. "I never wanted that shooters should loose focus on the eve of an international meet that too on the home soil," said Thomas, adding that, the issue has been apprised to the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). He was hopeful of some solution in the near future. "I hope things will be sorted out,’ said the coach. indianshooting.com