Indian shooting has gone beyond iconic names: NRAI president Raninder Singh

NEW DELHI: Awarded the rare 'Diploma of Honour' by the International Shooting Sport Federation, NRAI president Raninder Singh says shooting in India has gone beyond iconic names, giving him hopes of achieving a top-five finish in the discipline at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Considering the high expectations, the Indian shooting team's performance in the just-concluded Incheon Asian Games, where it bagged nine medals, may have disappointed a few but Raninder has a different perspective.

"Our shooters' performance at the Asian Games has to be seen in a context. Last time (in Guangzhou 2010) we had eight medals while this time we have won nine. The number of medals has gone up. I can say that Indian shooting has gone beyond iconic names and we have got a good bench strength," Raninder said.
"At the Asian Games, India came third in shooting behind China and Korea in number of medals. In the Commonwealth Games we were ranked one in number of medals."

While the National Rifle Association of India federation concentrated on building the bench strength in the last two years, it will focus on helping the shooters earn as many Rio Olympic quotas as possible in the next two.

"We had been focusing on building bench strength since the (2012) London Games. Now our focus will shift to Rio, earning as many quotas as possible. I would not be surprised if we surpass the numbers we had in the London Games.

"In the London Olympics we were eighth in shooting with two medals (one silver and one bronze); in Rio we can try for the fifth place," said Raninder.

The ISSF had last month bestowed Raninder with the 'Diploma of Honour' for his and the NRAI's contribution to the sport in India and abroad.

"This is given by the ISSF president and secretary general for contribution to shooting internationally. They give you a trophy and a medallion. This is a recognition of NRAI's contribution in international shooting and it's beyond individual honour," said Raninder.