By IANS,
New Delhi: After appeasing hockey players, Indian Olympic Association president Suresh Kalmadi will now try to end the stand-off between the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) and popular Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra when the warring parties meet here Tuesday.
The NRAI and Bindra differed on the training-cum-competition schedule of the shooter in the run-up to the upcoming World Cups and the New Delhi Commonwealth Championships in February.
“We have called Abhinav’s father for a face-to-face discussion tomorrow with Kalmadi to find out what their stand is on the matter,” said NRAI secretary-general Baljeet Singh Sethi Monday.
Sethi stated that Bindra could not be included in the squad for the first and second World Cups as well as the Commonwealth Championships as the teams have been announced and the sports ministry ratified them. NRAI would consider Bindra’s scores of international competitions for selection for the third and fourth World Cups.
“The team for the Commonwealth championships and the first two World Cups has already been selected and there is no chance for him to be included now,” said Sethi, adding that “there can be no change as the squad was approved by the government.”
The trouble arose after NRAI insisted that Bindra should attend the selection trials like all other shooters as mandated by the sports ministry while the champion shooter was firm on chalking out his own schedule of training and competition overseas.
Bindra failed to show up at the trials and he was promptly dropped from the squad for the two of the four World Cups and the Commonwealth Championships.
Sethi made it clear that there were no trials held for the Commonwealth Games and Bindra should give an undertaking that he would attend all the selection trials.
“There have been no trials for the Commonwealth Games. We may ask for an undertaking that he will appear for trials for the CWG,” said Sethi.
“Other shooters may now also insist that their international scores be considered. But government and sports ministry were making statements that Bindra be included.
“As IOA president, Kalmadi has a right to intervene in the matter and we have given authority to him to decide,” he said.
Bindra’s father A.S. Bindra said he was not aware that his son would not be taking part in the two World Cups.
“I am not aware of the news and I have been told by the media. I am very sad and hurt if authorities have taken such a decision. You ask the people of the nation whether they want him to shoot or not.”