‘REMOVING SHOOTING FROM CWG TO AFFECT YOUNG TALENT’

Impressed with the performance of the Indian shooters in Gold Coast, marksmen Jitu Rai is worried about the adverse effect non-inclusion of the sport in the 2022 Birmingham Games will have on young talents.

“We win a lot of medals in shooting (at the CWGs). Look at the kids who are doing so well and they will only do better as they go along. So, it saddens me that shooting won’t be a part of the 2022 Games. It will affect young medal prospects of our country,” Jitu said during an interaction organised by the Indian Army.

“But it is not in our hands. We can only shoot and that is what we are doing. Whether to include the sport or not, is in the hands of government (organisers). But I am still hopeful that it would be included,” he said.

The Indian Army accorded a warm welcome to its sportspersons, who returned with medals for the Commonwealth Games.

Asked if he agrees with his parent body NRAI, who urged the government to boycott the 2022 Games if shooting is not included as a discipline, Rai gave a defensive answer.

“If NRAI has said, then it is right. I agree with them. If they are removing one sport, then boycott the Games completely because we are doing so well in this sport. We were winning so many medals in shooting. I support the NRAI and government.”

Asked about his next target, Rai said, ”World Championship and Asian Games are the next targets but the immediate next big event is World Cup.”

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