The likes of Vijay Kumar, Annu Raj Singh and Rahi Sarnobat, have put Indian pistol shooting on a different pedestal, with their excellent scores that ensured three World Cup medals and three Olympic quota places.
Commending the performance of the shooters in the recent World Cup, National coach Prof. Sunny Thomas said that the pistol shooters could soon be getting guidance from the man whose free pistol world record of 581 still stands, the Moscow Olympic gold medallist, Alexander Melentiev of Russia.
Talks with Melentiev last year did not fructify into a contract as the coach was not willing to accept a short-term contract till the Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Though he is the advisor of the US shooting team, and had reached the World Cup in Fort Benning, Atlanta as the coach of the US team, Prof. Thomas said that Melentiev, when contacted, had agreed to take up the responsibility of tuning the talented Indian pistol shooters.
In fact, with the “Operation Excellence” scheme in vogue for the next Olympics, it should be a formality for the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to offer a suitable contract to the coach, as he does not have high demands.
Since he would be quitting his position with the US team, Melentiev would understandably like to have a four-year contact straightaway.
However, Prof. Thomas said that it could be worked out, with the renewal assured for four years after the London Games.
Praise
The 20-year-old Rahi Sarnobat came in for special praise from Prof. Thomas, for her spectacular 207.7 in the final, when all her 20 shots fetched scores of 10 or better. It was indeed agonising that she missed silver by 0.1 point.
“Rahi jumped from No.8 to win the bronze medal, while it was sad to see Anisa Sayeed slip from second place. I don't think anyone has shot that high a score in a final ever,” exclaimed the coach, as he recalled Sarnobat's breathtaking fare.
Talking about the outstanding effort of rapid fire pistol expert Vijay Kumar, Prof. Thomas observed that it was sheer bad luck that the ace marksman had to go through three shoot-offs during the final, and thus had exhausted his best ammunition before the last series.
“Vijay was shooting at his best after a slow start to the final. It was definitely a gold missed. He was so good,” Prof. Thomas said. He was equally impressed with the 389 in air pistol by Annu Raj Singh.
Camp in Hannover
The Indian team, restricted only to the top three shooters in each event, and none to be fielded in the MQS section, is scheduled to have a camp in Hannover for about a week before the last World Cup to be staged in Munich from June 16.
Anjali Bhagwat will be shooting in the main event, following her return to the national squad, with a 395 in MQS in the US, and so will double world record holder Gagan Narang and Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra.
Pistol ace Jaspal Rana, who had missed the World Cup in Fort Benning owing to a late clearance by the Union Sports Ministry, will not make the rapid fire pistol team, as he finds himself at No.5 in the merit list.
“It is going to be tough as the whole world will be competing to get the last few quota places from the World Cup, but it may be easy considering that so many have got quota places already. Thus, some may get the quota even without making the finals,” remarked Prof. Thomas.
India has already collected seven Olympic quota places for the London 2012 Games. It had secured 10 Olympic quota places for the last Games in Beijing. The Asian Championship in Doha next year will offer the last chance for Olympic qualification for Indian shooters.
