SAI sanctions two crore to four shooters for CWG, Asian Games

New Delhi :In what came as a major boost to India`s medal prospects in shooting, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has sanctioned more than Rs two crore for specialised training to four elite marksmen with an eye on Commonwealth Games and Asian Games later this year.

The news has come as music to the ears of Ronjan Sodhi (two silver medals at 2010 CWG and a gold at 2010 Asian Games), Shagun Chaudhary (first Indian woman to qualify for the Olympic trap shooting event in London Games 2012), Heena Sidhu (gold medal in 2013 ISSF World Cup Finals in Germany), and Manavjit Singh Sandhu (gold at 1998 CWG, four silver medals at 1998, 2002, 2006 Asian Games), who have been provided with special funding by the SAI. All the four shooters have received more than Rs 50 lakh each for their specialised training in the run up to the ISSF World Championship in Granada; Commonwealth Games from July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland; and Asian Games from September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea. The amount would be spent by these shooters on their training abroad at an European base. "We have sanctioned more than Rs 50 lakh each to Ronjan Sodhi, Shagun Chaudhary, Heena Sidhu and Manvjit Singh Sandhu for specialised training as part of their preparation for the World Championships, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games this year," Neeraj Kansal, secretary SAI, told PTI. "This is part of SAI`s long-term policy to boost the country`s medal prospects in these sporting events. Our shooters have always performed well in the CWG and Asian Games. We have sanctioned funds for their training," he added. Commonwealth Games and Asian Games have always been the happy hunting grounds for the Indian shooters, who have time and again swelled the country`s medal tally with their fine performances in these two quadrennial events. In the last edition of the CWG held in New Delhi in 2010, Indian shooters came up with a rich haul of 30 medals - 14 gold, 11 silver and 5 bronze. In the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, Indian marksmen finished with eight medals - 1 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze. SAI received the go ahead from the Sports Ministry this week after which the funds were sanctioned to the athletes. Kansal also informed that shooting is among the six sporting disciplines, which has been identified by the SAI as India`s best medal hope in the CWG and Asian Games. Other five are boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, badminton and archery.