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Ronjan still hopeful of Olympic berth

Kamesh Srinivasan

SHOOTING / It is a great day for me and for Indian shooting, says the champion

PROUD MOMENT: Ronjan Sodhi (centre) who won the gold in the shotgun World Cup in Belgrade on Wednesday.

NEW DELHI: It is tough not to jump the gun, and say that Ronjan Sodhi will start the favourite in the doubletrap event in the Beijing Olympic Games.

The 29-year-old who won the gold in the shotgun World Cup in Belgrade on Wednesday by equalling two world records is easily the best double trap shooter in the world today, without a quota place for the Beijing Games.

Though the performance of a shooter who has obtained an outstanding result in one of the Olympic shooting events in an official qualification competition, would weigh for the 14 Universality Places for hardship cases that will be decided shortly by the international body, it will be difficult to ignore the claims of Ronjan Sodhi who had narrowly missed winning the quota place.

“It is a great day for me. It is a great day for Indian shooting,” said Ronjan, quite at ease in the limelight, after the memorable triumph.

Fantastic effort

“It is a brilliant performance by Ronjan. We are confident that the ISSF will give him the wild card for the Olympics. They had promised us during the Beijing World Cup, and Ronjan has strengthened his case with such a fantastic effort,” said the secretary-general of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), Baljit Singh Sethi.

Unlike many other shooters who eye the quota places won by their teammates, quite legally as the quota places are won for the country and not for the individuals, Ronjan has been categorical that Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore would be at his best during the Beijing Olympics.

“I know how hard Rathore has been training, and am sure he will do the best in the Olympics. I am keeping my fingers crossed for the wildcard from the ISSF,” said Ronjan, who was only making his fourth final in a World Cup, and had only a bronze medal to show at Santo Domingo last year.

The Mittal Champions Trust that has spent about Rs. 25 lakh on Ronjan Sodhi so far has stated that all efforts would be made to give him the best preparation if he gets the nod for the Beijing Games.

“This is stupendous shooting by Ronjan. Though he didn’t have a quota place for the Olympics, we backed him all along because we were impressed by his sincerity to the sport as much as his talent to excel. He has proved the faith, and is capable of bigger deeds. Ronjan has been going to Russell Mark for training and we will ensure that his training is maintained at a high standard so that he retains the tremendous momentum as and when he gets into the Olympics,” said former tennis champion Manisha Malhotra, who is the administrator of the Mittal Champions Trust.

Incidentally, Olympic champion Russell Mark had coached Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore to the silver medal in the Athens Games four years ago.

Quick learner

Being a quick learner Ronjan has understood the nuances of tackling pressure in the high intensity finals, which was proved by the fact that he could improve his personal best in international competition from 187 to a world record 194.

Ronjan could have put the final world record solely against his name, rather than sharing it with World champion Daniele di Spigno of Italy, but for missing the 46th bird after he had regrouped himself on missing the 22nd and the 28th birds in a gripping climax. He does not regret that, for Ronjan is sure that the best is yet to come.

All he needs is that Olympic platform to showcase his classy technique and the new-found confidence to better the best in the business. Few Indian sportspersons can match him on both counts.

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