'We will do not deny merit... merit has to be the sole criteria in a measurable sport. Heena has been consistent and yesterday she shot 385 (at practice) which, in our opinion, is an Olympic final score,' NRAI president Raninder Singh told reporters in Delhi.
The Sports Ministry on Saturday said any selection process that leaves out the best talents is faulty and it would have no issues if National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) exempts ace shooter Abhinav Bindra from trials.
'I would say you have to give six months to a year to give the athletes to kind of even register that person is going (to the Olympics). People are struggling to find their kit. So, things could have been better.'
Heena has been ignored for the Asian Games mixed team air pistol -- an event where she has excelled since its introduction last year.
Bindra said that the official team manager left the athletes "to fend for themselves".
India remained at the top of the medal tally with a total of 16 medals which included one silver and four bronze.
The National Rifle Association of India agreed to consider the Olympic hero's international scores for inclusion in the team for the third and fourth World Cups later this year, but said his inclusion in the first and second edition of the mega-event and the Commonwealth Shooting Championships is out of the question as the squads for the three events have already been approved by the Sports Ministry.
The National Rifle Association of India has barred all state association officials, who sided with Abhay Singh Chautala's faction in the last IOA elections, from voting in its April 6 polls on the directive of ISSF and the International Olympic Committee.
Indian food services sector is expected to grow at a CAGR (compounded annual growth rate) of 8.1 per cent between 2024 and 2028 on the back of rapid urbanisation, robust GDP growth, a rising younger population, and greater exposure among consumers, said a new report. The India Food Services Report-2024, brought out by the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI), states that the sector contributes 1.9 per cent to India's GDP and is projected to grow to Rs 7.76 trillion by 2028 from Rs 5.69 trillion currently.
The bronze medals on day two of the competitions at the International Shooting Sport Federation event took India's count to five medals (two gold and three bronze).
The national shooting federation NRAI chose current form over pedigree to pick the squad for the mega event and it will be hoping they hit the bullseye at the National Shooting Centre in Chateauroux.
Rana hardly minced words as he questioned the federation's tendency to make last-minute changes to its policy, and its stubborn refusal to acknowledge or facilitate the presence of shooters' personal coaches at national camps and trials.
Double Olympic-medallist Manu Bhaker opted for a three-month rest following her exploits at the Paris Games.
India shooter Swapnil Kusale on Wednesday qualified for finals of the 50m rifle 3 positions in Paris after finishing seventh.
Sonam Uttam Maskar clinched the silver medal in the Women's 10m Air Rifle event at the ISSF World Cup Final 2024 in Delhi on Tuesday.
Bindra admitted that hopes will be high on the Indian shooting contingent in Paris after having notched up seven medals - India's best-ever tally - at the Tokyo Olympics.
The NRAI has proposed to appoint specialised chief coaches for pistol, rifle and shotgun disciplines instead of one national coach to help the shooters achieve better results.
India's young shooters added five more medals to their kitty, including two gold on Friday taking the tally to 21 medals to remain at the top of the standings -- 13 gold, two silver and six bronze.
The NRAI will send a protest letter to various sports bodies after Indian shooters, competing in the ISSF Shooting World Cup in London, were forced to spend a night at the hotel lobby due to the organising committee's irresponsible behaviour.
Legendary pistol marksman and Manu Bhaker's personal coach Jaspal Rana on Thursday claimed he was asked to leave the Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi by India's high performance director Pierre Beauchamp, kicking off a controversy in which the national federation appeared to be siding with the Canadian.
NRAI termed the disqualification of trap shooter Manavjit Singh by organisers of the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Kuwait as 'unjust and unfair'.
Indian skeet shooter Bhavtegh Singh Gill clinched a silver medal in the men's skeet event at the ISSF Junior World Cup in Porpetto, Italy
Livid with Abhinav Bindra's sustained campaign against tainted officials in the Indian Olympic Association, the suspended body's president Abhey Singh Chautala launched a stinging personal attack on the Olympic gold-medallist shooter, saying he should first sort his house in order before commenting on others.
Khushi secured a hard-fought bronze in the women's 50m rifle 3 positions at the ISSF Junior World Championship.
India's medal prospects took a hit with the exclusion of hockey, shooting, cricket, badminton and wrestling from the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Legendary pistol marksman Jaspal Rana has expressed grave concerns over the delay in naming the Indian shooting contingent for the Paris Olympics.
Jaspal Rana questions Sports Ministry, NRAI for ignoring Manu's credentials for Khel Ratna
The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has announced cash awards of Rs 20 lakh to London Olympics silver medallist Vijay Kumar and Rs 15 lakh to bronze winner Gagan Narang for bringing laurels to the country in the mega event.
Sports minister Mansukh Mandaviya called the shooting World Cup final, which commenced in New Delhi on Monday, a celebration of excellence and added that the country felt honoured to welcome the best in the business.
Olympian Manu Bhaker displayed complete dominance in 10m air pistol Olympic Selection Trials (OST), shooting a superb score to overcome the challenge of Asian Games medallist Esha Singh in Bhopal on Friday.
More than 150 shotgun shooters are sweating over their participation in crucial national Olympic trials later this month in Patiala in the wake of the farmers' agitation.
Bindra reminded the squad that "success is not a one-off event".
Champion pistol shooter Jitu Rai, Rahi Sarnobat and P N Prakash have been recommended by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for the prestigious Arjuna Awards this year.
The Cairo World Cup will be held in all three disciplines -- pistol, rifle and shotgun -- and will conclude on February 1.
Top pistol shooter Ankait Tomar was removed from the Indian contingent bound for the ISSF World Championships in Baku a week before its departure because of a "minor scuffle with a fellow shooter", said his father on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, Divanshi reached the final by finishing fifth in qualification with a score of 577 over the precision and rapid-fire rounds of 30-shots each.
Rudrankksh Patil and Mehuli Ghosh gave India its fifth gold medal at the Asia Olympic Qualifiers.
It was double delight for Parth Rakesh Mane as he was crowned junior world champion in 10m air rifle and also claimed a team gold to lead India's impressive performance at the ongoing ISSF Junior World Championship in Lima, Peru.
In a departure from regular practice, the National Rifle Association of India, which is aiming to restore sanctity of national camps, will let the Abhinav Bindra-led Rio Games Review Panel to supervise two of the four technical national camps slated early next year.
'An example is mixed pair test event over here in air pistol (which Jitu Rai and Heena Sidhu won). So we have the best chance of picking up an extra medal in the two air events. That's why I believe it is in our interest, this change. I am not worried about it'
