Gagan not for event change

New Delhi, Feb. 8: Olympic bronze-medallist Gagan Narang says shooting’s “ecosystem” will take a “hit” if the ISSF Athletes Committee’s recommendation for mixedgender team events for future Olympics, starting with the 2020 edition in Tokyo, is ratified by the world body.

In a decision that evoked mixed response, the ISSF Athletes Committee, headed by India’s lone individual Olympic gold-medallist Abhinav Bindra, recommended mixed-gender team events for the Olympic Games.

The panel has sought to replace the double-trap men’s event with a mixedgender trap event, convert the 50m prone men’s event into a mixed-gender air rifle event and the 50m pistol men’s event into a mixed-gender air pistol event.

Gagan, one of India’s most versatile shooters, said, “The ecosystem of shooting sport will take a hit with these three events going out of the Olympic program.”

The ace shooter, though, promptly added, “But like many others, I will also cross the bridge when we get to it.”

Unlike some of India’s top pistol shooters, Gagan is not “deeply saddened” but ready to embrace it.

When asked to elaborate his statement that ecosystem of shooting will take a hit, Gagan said, “Prone is very popular across the world and suppose it is dropped, so many shooters who are shooting prone only will be out.”

He felt the equipment manufacturing units will also be affected. “Weapon manufactures will stop producing weapons, equipment required for 50m prone and 50m pistol events.”

The move follows the International Olympic Committee’s objective of international sport federations working towards a 50 per cent female representation at the Games. Currently, shooting has nine men’s and six women’s events at the Olympics. — PTI