Chennai, Aug 28: National Shooting coach Sunny Thomas has expressed confidence that atleast six shooters would qualify for next year's Athens Olympics games. "The recent performances of our shooters in international events during the year, has been encouraging. Based on this, I expect a minimum of four more shooters to book their berth before end of February next," Thomas told here.
Two Indian shooters, Anjali Bhagwat and Abhinav Bindra have already qualified for the 2004 Olympic games in the air rifle event.
The Indian coach said, "The days of ignoring Indian shooters by the developed nations in the sport are over. Now, even world champions in their pet events in shooting have started giving a second look to our shooters."
Putting his weight behind those who advocated that the shooters who have already qualified for the four-yearly event should not be fielded in Asian championship, he said "those who are in the fringe of achieving the Olympic quota mark might feel so because Asian championship will be the last event and it could be a do or die battle for them to get the Olympic berth."
The team for the Asian championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur in next February would be selected on basis of the 2003 performances including those in the nationals, Afro Asian Games, Commonwealth and World Cups and the four trials, he said.
Bureau Report