NRAI President Calls for Larger Pool of Shooters After Asian Games

The Indian shooting team had a commendable performance at the recent Asian Games held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, winning a total of 15 medals, including 3 gold, 8 silver, and 4 bronze. This placed India second in the medal tally, trailing behind China, which secured 28 medals.

Despite the successful medal count, Kalikesh Singh Deo, president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), expressed that the team could have achieved better results, particularly in the air pistol events, where they did not win any medals. The men's air pistol team faced challenges due to frequent changes in its composition, leading to a lack of stability and experience among the shooters.

Singh Deo noted that the NRAI's selection policy is based on objective criteria, which has contributed to the instability within the team. He highlighted the need to develop a larger pool of athletes to enhance consistency and performance, especially as many young shooters are emerging in the sport. The NRAI plans to address these issues and is awaiting the conclusion of the World Championships before making any changes to the team structure.