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No hostel facility for India's top shooters prior to Tokyo Olympics
India's foremost shooting facility- The Karni Singh range is situated on the outskirts of Delhi, therefore travelling becomes an issue for the shooters.
The Indian shooting contingent has been in exemplary form, a great sign with the Tokyo 2020 Olympics slated for next year. India has already confirmed 9 Olympic quotas in shooting-Apurvi Chandela, Anjum Moudgil, Yashaswini Singh Deswal, Elavenil Valarivan, Manu Bhaker, Rahi Sarnobat, Sanjeev Rajput, Saurabh Chaudhury and Abhishek Verma have all made the cut for Tokyo 2020. However, the lack of hostel facilities at the country's foremost shooting facility- Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range has taken a toll on India's top shooters, according to TOI.
Union sports minister on Friday Kiren Rijiju promised to provide all help to the shooters and said he expected the hostel facility to come up within two years at the Karni Singh range.
"Just recently, I visited the Dr. Karni Singh shooting range. It is one of the finest shooting ranges in the world. Hostel and lodging facilities will come up fast. Most probably within the next two years."
The Karni Singh range is situated on the outskirts of Delhi, therefore travelling becomes an issue for the shooters. Compounded with the absence of a hostel, it means the shooters have to book a lodging facility for themselves every time they come for practice in the capital.
Yashaswini Deswal, who won gold in 10m air pistol event at Rio at the ISSF World Cup conceded,
"The Karni Singh shooting range is the best in the country. But the biggest inconvenience for us is the lack of hostel facility. Most of us belong to other states. We come here to make best use of the resources available at the range. For that, we have to stay for a long period of time in Delhi. So our options are either we book a hotel or stay at any friend's place. A hostel would be a massive help.
Best year for India's shooting
2019 marked India's best-ever performance in a calendar year, witnessing a significant jump from its previous best of eight medals which was achieved last year. Before 2019, India had a record of collecting 19 gold medals at the ISSF World Cups, of which only 11 came from rifle and pistol shooting events, whereas the rest eight came from trap.
With nine Olympic quotas already bagged by the Indian shooters, the performance this year can turn out to be a shot-in-the-arm moment for them ahead of the sporting extravaganza in Tokyo next year.
