Top shooters should get exemption from the trials: Samresh

New Delhi: The special exemption from trials given to Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra should be extended to other top shooters as well, Commonwealth Games gold medalist Samresh Jung has demanded.

"It is good that Abhinav has got this exemption but I think it should not be a one-time thing. There are others like Gagan Narang, Sanjeev Rajput who are getting good scores on the international circuit," Samresh, who was named the best athlete of the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games, told reporters. "Instead of trials, the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) should consider the international scores for inclusion in the team," he added.Abhinav, who has been training abroad, has not been included in the Indian squads for this month`s Commonwealth Championships to be held here as well as the ISSF World Cups in Sydney from March 20-28 and in Beijing from April 16-25 after failing to turn up for the selection trials. However, after the recent controversy, the NRAI decided to exempt the ace shooter from attending the trials for the next two World Cups to be held in Fort Benning, USA from May 22-31 and in Belgrade from June 26-July 7.On the issue of hiring a coach on his own, a move that was criticised by the Sports Minister M S Gill, Jung said he had no choice as any further delay in appointing a coach would have hurt their medal prospects in the Commonwealth Games. PTI