Para shooting in the country is set for a fillip with the NRAI deciding to take back para shooters in it’s fold.
The governing body of NRAI has decided to re-start para events during state/zonal/AIGVMSC/NSCC. The decision of the governing body of NRAI is to facilitate the para shooters to import arms/ammunition/equipment for their training and participation,ÔÇØ the NRAI said in a statement.
The national federation latest move overturns it’s decision in August 2019 to remove para events from all it’s competitions, including national championships. It was a bolt out of the blue for the para shooters and specially for those who were preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, which were postponed by a year due to the pandemic, and the NRAI decision left them without a target to aim at.
One of the arguments put forth by NRAI at that point was that most shooting ranges in the country donÔÇÖt have facilities like elevators, which are necessary for para athletes.ÔÇØ This was apart from NRAI observation that there was a separate body (Paralympic Committee of India) to control shooting activities.
NRAI move isnÔÇÖt without a reason, and has unfolded keeping in mind next year Paris Paralympic Games. The much-vaunted Indian contingent drew a blank at Tokyo 2021 while their counterparts in para shooting fared far better at the Paralympics winning a total of four medals.
Avani Lekhara led the medalsÔÇÖ haul with gold in women’s 10m air rifle and bronze in 50m rifle three positions.
Manish Narwal too won gold with a world record score in mixed 50m Pistol while Singhraj Adhana got silver in mixed 50m pistol and bronze in men’s 10m air pistol.
Going with the latest NRAI statement, which reads, The details of the matches will be notified on the recommendation of the technical committee and approval of the governing body of NRAI,ÔÇØ para shooters are eagerly waiting for what the future holds, especially with the Paralympics just over a year away.
Echoing the sentiment, Dronacharya awardee and Chairperson Para Shooting, Sports Technical Committee, Paralympic Committee of India, JP Nautiyal, told indianshooting.com, We are thankful to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs to give a reprieve to the para shooters. I am sure the (NRAI) technical committee will consult the PCI for further uninterrupted scheme to para shooters. This will boost the performance of para shooters at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.ÔÇØ