Xtra Time Web Desk: National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Rainder Singh on Tuesday said the coaching staff of the Indian shooting team needs a complete overhaul after the disappointing performance from the shooters at the Tokyo Olumpics. Raninder also reacted to the recent fall out between Manu Bhaker and coach Jaspal Rana.
India had a lot of medal hopes on Manu Bhaker and Saurabh Chaudhary at the Tokyo Games after their consistent showing at major tournaments in the lead up to the Games. However, Manu failed to qualify for the 10m Air Pistol Women’s final after an equipment issue on Sunday. Saurabh qualified for the final of the 10m Air Pistol Men’s event after topping the qualification round but he finished 7th.
“If you see today’s performance, there was an Olympic record qualification score. It is not a joke. But then, 10 minutes later, in Stage 2, one of them does rather poorly, it’s really inexplicable in a way,” said Raninder Singh to the mediapersons in Tokyo.
“Before Croatia, I think in Delhi there was a lot of internal factionalism among the pistol coaches. That was addressed in an 8-page letter by me.”
“I can’t speak for individuals. We have honoured all our coaches, all our ex-athletes including Jaspal. It was I who brought him into the programme, it was I who supported him throughout.
“It’s for reasons best known to him and the athletes concerned, they are unable to work together. This is not China where we live where I can’t dictate to people that ‘you’ll do this and that’. They have to be willing to work with each other.
“When you’re in a build-up to the Games, this is a family, you have to try and keep the peace.
“Both of them didn’t get on. The other side was also not willing to work with him. The girl cited something, the parents cited something. Jaspal, in his defence, cited something. I tried twice, this was once during the World Cup and one after,” Raninder said.
India travelled to Tokyo with Ronak Pandit overseeing the pistol shooters. He was working with Manu Bhaker in Croatia after the teenage shooter had a fall-out with Jaspal Rana.