SAI rejects appointment of five coaches, lashes out at NRAI for objecting
Twiiter
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has rejected the appointment of five shooting coaches lashing out at National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) for objecting the decision. Out of the 29 names submitted by NRAI, five coaches were rejected, having not met the required criteria as mentioned by SAI.
NRAI had raised an objection to SAI's rejection of coaches with NRAI President Raninder Singh addressing SAI in a letter where he mentioned the gesture to be 'insensitive’ and an 'affront to our sport and human intellect’. SAI, on the other hand, has mentioned that the objection coming from NRAI is totally surprising, as they had 'duly acknowledged’ the move on July 26.
Further, lashing out on NRAI, the body stated that the objection raised by NRAI was completely 'illogical’.
“SAI held discussions with NRAI on the panel of 29 coaches which was submitted for the appointment of the training of Indian shooters. Following these detailed consultations, a panel of 24 coaches was approved," SAI Special Director General Onkar Kedia said in a letter addressed to the NRAI President, reported PTI.
“The decision of the SAI was conveyed to NRAI on July 26 which was duly acknowledged by your office. It is, therefore, quite surprising that you raise these issues six weeks later without any reference to the consultations, discussions and correspondence that has been held with SAI on this issue," he said.
Onkar Kedia mentioned that the five coaches had been rejected because they didn't have the required qualifications. Two of them Shreayan Kapoor and Nilanjana Ghoshal have never been in any competition at the international level and do not have a coaching certificate.
Amar Jung, who has been to the national level, has a 'C’ level coaching certificate that he acquired in 2017 and hence could not be made responsible for handling International shooters, as per the government body. Jitender Beniwal has a similar 'C’ level coaching certificate taken up in 2017 and was not competent enough according to SAI.
MS Bhangale, as informed by SAI did not come to give the interview at all. SAI said the four coaches- Mansher Singh (chief Coach Shotgun), Ved Prakash (chief Coach senior pistol), Monali Manohar Ghore (pistol coach) and Vishavdev Singh Sidhu (junior shotgun coach) would be issued their appointment letters shortly.
“We would also like to point out that in addition to these 24 coaches, SAI has funded coaching and training of 17 shooters under Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS)," Kedia said in the letter.
