New Delhi: Recommending a systematic overhaul, the Abhinav Bindra-led NRAI review committee on Wednesday came down hard on the athletes, coaches and even the federation for the Indian shooters’ “over-achievement” at the Rio Olympics.
The four-member committee, which had former Asian Games gold-medallist tennis player Manisha Malhotra as convener, revealed a 36-page report on the day which reviewed the performance of each of the 12 shooters.
“Everyone took it for granted that there would be progress automatically, and forgot to ensure a systematic healthy process,” the report stated. “To sum up the deliberations of the committee it can be said with no reservations that Indian shooting ‘over achieved’ at the Rio Olympic Games. The formula for success was wrong and Indian shooting had ridden its luck over the last few years, no doubt helped by some extremely talented shooters,” it added.
The committee was formed after none of the 12 Olympic-qualified shooters managed to get a medal in Rio with Bindra’s fourth-place finish in 10m air rifle event being the best show.
“The committee was unanimous in its view that Indian shooting needs to change, change its attitude, its policies and practices, so that the booming talent gets a fair chance to flourish in a healthy atmosphere, and win medals that they can in the World Championships and the Olympics.
“The chalta hai attitude that shadows Indian sport has to be stopped. At present the system is adhoc. There is no systemic framework in place,” the committee pointed out.
