BENGALURU: The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which postponed the national camp planned from August 1 in New Delhi, is now looking to start it in the second week of August.
According to shooters whom NRAI officials got in touch with on Wednesday, the new plan is to start the camp from August 17. “The NRAI message says the camp is mandatory,” one of the shooters told TOI.
When asked, NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia said discussions are still on with shooters and coaches. “The plan is to start the camp in the second week of August. The reason why we haven’t sent an official mail to shooters and coaches so far about the camp is that we are still finalizing a few things,” Bhatia said. “We will inform the shooters once we firm up our plans.”
Asked why the camp is being made mandatory, he said it is the decision of the governing body of NRAI.
Anish glad to return to the range
Meanwhile, pistol shooter Anish Bhanwala said he was making full use of the training slot at the Dr Karni Singh shooting range in New Delhi. The Karnal shooter, who has set up base in Delhi, said he was surprised by the speed with which he hit the groove after being away from the range for months.
“I was not expecting good scores when I returned to training two weeks back. But it seems the efforts to maintain physical fitness (during lockdown) helped to get me back in the groove,” said the 17-year-old.
Anish does the 25m rapid fire routine for around three hours in the morning under foreign coach Pavel Smirnov and returns in the evening for another short session at the 10m range.
Pistol ace Manu Bhaker, rifle shooter Sanjeev Rajput and few shotgun shooters have also joined Anish, making the best of SAI‘s decision to open the range for the core group. “I’m already into training mode but once the national camp starts it will be much better as I can compete with the other shooters,” he said.