Address coaches’ issue fast, urges NRAI observer Pandit

NEWDELHI: Better communication between foreign and personal coaches is the need of the hour, feels National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) observer Ronak Pandit. A former pistol shooter, who coaches Heena Sidhu, said the NRAI needs to sit down with all the coaches and sort the issues. He said he would be filing his report to NRAI soon.

The presence of personal coaches during the World Cup here has not gone down well with foreign coaches who view it as an intrusion.

Pandit said the intention of coaches is not wrong and all they want is their wards to do well. “Our top shooters need to train differently. The federation has a criteria under which they can accept or reject personal coaches.

“The important thing is communication between coaches — SAI, core group and personal coaches. We want there to be positivity in the team. We want coaches to be on talking terms; there should be co-ordination between them so that they can freely exchange knowledge among themselves for the good of the shooters.”

Pandit said the issue needs to be addressed urgently so that shooters are not confused. “Besides the shooters, we also have to focus on the coaches. The federation needs to step in and listen to coaches and try to sort things out without pointing fingers at anyone because everyone is trying to do his best for the shooters and the country.

“We have six weeks before the Beijing World Cup and we need to sort this out in the next one or two weeks so that we have four weeks to prepare for other World Cups.”

He also said that foreign coaches alone cannot handle things because there are so many shooters and they are here for a limited period. “Foreign coaches work with shooters only two weeks before competition. We have to use the expertise of foreign coaches. But can one foreign coach take care of 15 shooters? Delegation of work is important and foreign coaches needs to delegate work and allow Indian coaches to do their job.”

Pandit has been training Heena and has got permission from the NRAI. “Pistol coach Smirnov Pavel knows that Heena is training under me, and I am responsible. Once in twothree days, I submit my updates to Pavel and other national coaches,” said Pandit on his co-ordination with other coaches.

PERSONAL COACH

Saurabh Chaudhary has written to the NRAI to allow his personal coach, Amit Sheoran, in national camps and during competition.

Sheoran, who was here to watch Saurabh in action on the final day, said they are awaiting a response.

“Saurabh has written to the NRAI recently. Today was the first day I watched Saurabh in a competition and he has been brilliant.

“He has this ability to switch off from everything and shoot,” said Sheoran.