By IANS,
New Delhi : Trap shooter Zorawar Singh insists he is in the form of his life and he deserves an Olympic berth. If the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) gives him a chance, he is hopeful of winning a medal in Beijing.
The 31-year-old Delhiite, who won a bronze in the World Cup at Chongwon in South Korea last year, wants the NRAI to consider his case on current form and his performance in the Minimum Qualification Score (MQS) section in the last two World Cups in Belgrade and Suhl (Germany).
In MQS section, shooters are not considered for medals, they only get to participate to gain international exposure. In Belgrade, Zorawar shot 123 out of 125 while in Suhl he scored 120.
Nine Indian shooters have made it to Beijing through the Olympic quota, Manavjit Singh Sandhu and Mansher Singh being the two trap shooters among them.
According to the Olympic norms, only two shooters from one country can take part in a single event and with Manavjit and Mansher already there, Zorawar has no place, though he feels he has the potential to win a medal.
“Manavjit has been very consistent and Mansher is also doing well. But I am a better potential to win a medal at the Olympics. Mind you, the quotas go to the country, not the shooters,” said Zorawar.
“My scores in Belgrade and Suhl are good enough to qualify for the finals if I was shooting in the main round. I have nothing against anybody and I hope the NRAI considers my scores and takes a fair call,” he added.
The NRAI accepted that Zorawar’s performance in the last two World Cups in the MQS section was good, says NRAI secretary-General Baljeet Singh Sethi, but it is too late to make changes in the team.
“We can’t replace Manvjit or Mansher by Zorawar on the basis of his performance in just two World Cups. We should consider that he participated in the MQS section, which is just to encourage shooters. If that is the case then we have to replace Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore with world record holder Ronjan Sodhi in the double trap event. But we can’t do that because we have to back the shooters who have done well consistently,” Sethi told IANS.
Sethi went on to add that Zorawar’s average score is less than those of Manavjit and Mansher and that his performance in the other World Cups in Kerrville (US) and Beijing, where he had poor scores, should also be considered.
In Kerrvile and Beijing, Zorawar even failed to touch the 120-mark and shot 110 and 104.