New Delhi. It seems that the national shooting federation, which is fighting a court battle to maintain its selection criteria in the ongoing trials for the Paris Olympics, has recently changed the rules for a shooter, allowing him to score more than the expected score. Trap shooter Karan missed the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) criteria for the shotgun selection trials by two points, but was allowed to compete, while last year’s Several others who achieved similar scores during the National Championships were not considered. “Selection Trials for Shotgun Events as per Shotgun Selection Criteria 2024 and Olympic Selection Criteria 2024” announced in a letter issued by NRAI in November , which states that the shooters with a score of 110 in the senior men’s trap during the 66th National Championships (October-November, 2023). Were eligible for the exercise conducted between December, 2023 and March 2024.
Army shooter Karan scored 108 at the national championships, but his was the only recommendation accepted by the NRAI, while a similar exception was not made for over a dozen shooters who had scored similar scores. The shooter had appeared in four selection tests. NRAI secretary Rajeev Bhatia said that since Karan is an “up-and-coming” shooter and his “recommendation came from the Army”, he An exception was made for him. “We made an exception because he is an emerging, good shooter. There was a difference of only two points and he is scoring well. That’s why we introduced him in the trials to select teams for the World Cup, World Championships, everything (including the Olympics),” Bhatia said.
“We cannot just play by the rule book (not become stereotypes). There was a recommendation from the Army to allow him (for the National Trials) because he had performed very well in the National Games (in Goa).” Karan, representing the Services Sports Control Board, was at the National Games in Goa. He was the first athlete to be eliminated after finishing sixth in the trap final in 2015. Ironically, the NRAI is locked in a legal battle with some of the Olympic contenders in the Delhi High Court, where it is insisting that the rifle and pistol Not more than the top five shooters will be allowed in the ongoing trials. The process has been criticized by at least former national coach and renowned pistol shooter Jaspal Rana, who has said that the federation is not following international norms. On why the trials were not opened for shooters who had achieved similar scores at Nationals, Bhatia said, “I think we allowed him under a special criteria because of his previous scores.”
Bhatia said that being given an exception in the trials does not mean that he has been selected in the national team for international competitions like the World Cup and World Championships. “So, was he selected for the World Cup? ‘No, we just gave him a chance,’ he said. ‘Every state recommends shooters for inclusion (in trials), and we go on merit. A shooter may make a poor score in a competition. One day you may score a bad score.” Asked what the NRAI would have done if he had topped the trials, Bhatia said, “If someone is performing, then why not (name him in the Olympic team) Give). How can we not consider him (for the Olympics if he had performed)? The aim is to select the best athlete. “But he is not going to any competition. As of today, he is nowhere in the national rankings. I think his ranking (after trials) is very low. But if he had won on the field, he would have been (in contention).
He said an exception has also been made for shooters to promote shotgun shooting because it is not as popular as pistols and rifles. “Shotguns, we have to promote (the numbers are very less) compared to pistol rifles and other categories. Will… This was the recommendation of the Army Marksmanship Unit, which is an affiliated unit of NRAI. “It was just a case, we did not open it to everyone. Just a one-time exception.”
