Tweak in selection policy cost Chaudhary a year, says Jaspal Rana
New Delhi, Sept. 21: India’s junior shooting coach Jaspal Rana has claimed that a “tweak” in selection policy kept 16- year- old Asian Games gold- medallist Saurabh Chaudhary out of the national team for one year.
Chaudhary, the son of a farmer from Kalina village in Meerut, went on to win the gold medal beating a field of multiple world and Olympic champions in Palembang, Indonesia, in the process becoming India’s youngest shooter to win gold at Asian Games.
“He was out of the national team for one year because the policy was twisted by certain influential people within and outside the National Rifle Association of India,” Jaspal said on Saturday.
The four- time Asian Games goldmedallist added, “Saurabh was the number one shooter in senior ahead of Jitu ( Rai), who was supported by one NGO.
“Saurabh was disqualified from one of the trials due to ‘ so- called grip problems’. I eventually intervened, told a few coaches and the disqualification was revoked.”
Saurabh’s trial scores were better than Jitu before the Asian Games.
World Championship silver- medallist Jitu, who has won a plethora of medals in top international tournaments before losing his touch, is being backed by the Olympic Gold Quest. Rana doesn’t want his teenage prodigies to get “carried away” by the money, attention and laurels coming their way following a string of overwhelming results.
“I am not angry but the thought definitely makes me feel bad and saddens me. They have a long way to go and are yet to see the bitter truths of life, the failures, which eventually make one strong,” Jaspal said.
“As they set out to scale higher peaks, these promising shooters and all the stakeholders involved must be careful that they don’t get distracted and keep working hard,” he added.
The 42- year- old Jaspal, one of India’s finest exponents in pistol shooting, has played a key role in moulding the likes of Manu Bhaker, Anish Bhanwala and Chaudhary.
According to Jaspal, it would be wiser if shooters are given access to money only when they are mature enough.
“Staying on top is really difficult. Young kids have to learn how to rise from failures, life will teach them all these lessons. Money should be given in a way they are not affected. The crores the government gives should not be given at one go.
“They should get access to money once they are mature enough, till then keep it as FD ( fixed deposit) in their name and secure their life.
“When you get carried away by money and fame, I feel bad about it, because I have seen people getting out of the national squad.
“You can check the record. I teach them to accept defeat in a graceful manner.”
Saurabh was disqualified from one of the trials due to ‘ so- called grip problems’. I eventually intervened, told a few coaches and the disqualification was revoked. — JASPAL RANA , junior shooting coach