When Scindia asked for the new ISSF president Luciano Rossi from the dias to also give the world championships to Bhopal, he invited the enthusiastic applause of the athletes and dignitaries present, including the president of the National Rifle Association of India Raninder Singh.
It was also a momentous occasion for Raninder as, for the first time, an ISSF World Cup in India was held outside the Dr Karni Singh shooting ranges in Delhi.
मुख्यमंत्री श्री @chouhanshivraj द्वारा कुशाभाऊ ठाकरे सभागार, भोपाल में issf शूटिंग वर्ल्ड कप कारंभ… https://t.co/wojzixvmst
— Department of Sports and Youth Protection, MP (@MP_DSYW) 1679405017000
As guests headed to the outer lawns for dinner, Timesofindia.com spoke to Raninder about the new venue, India’s hopes, the Chinese challenge and NRAIParis’ renewed push to turn the tide at Paris 2024 after two consecutive barren Olympic editions for the sport.
Extracts…
An ISSF World Cup in India away from Delhi for the first time. A welcome change?
I think it was something that was overdue. That’s why I was very happy that this facility was in the works. It is a signal for the other States. The international sports community only wants one facility, and we, as a national federation, are very happy. It is part of our philosophy, our composition as a national federation that we should extend it as much as possible and thus help to promote the sport among young people in this region as well.
How would you rate this MP State Shooting Academy here in Bhopal compared to Dr. Karni Singh Range in Delhi?
I think both ranges are international standards. There is no doubt about that. The international standard is set once the technical delegate has signed off on the preparation and effectiveness of the range. In both places this was done. Delhi has its own advantages. Going out in a city like Bhopal has its own advantages. For us, as a national federation, the two are equal.
There were question marks over the preparation of the finals line-up here in Bhopal…
No it’s not that. You see, target calibration had to be done. We always receive technicians from Switzerland. They were arriving a bit early, then there was a bit of a delay in their flight and we thought maybe we weren’t on time. But we finished it on time and the technical delegates and officials are all satisfied. We even did a mock shoot there.
China are back in the fray for the first time at a World Cup in 2023. They left the Indian contingent far behind to top the draws at the World Championships last year. Is India’s new World Cup team ready for this?
Not only are we ready, but I also think every athlete here is of a certain level. No nation goes to an international competition to lose. We all start with the hope of winning and the rest depends on the athlete and their performance on the day. I think our team is well suited to take on any challenge and I’m sure the Chinese are too.
What will it take to emerge from the fiasco of two consecutive Olympics without medals, especially because the Indian contingents topped the standings at the World Cups before Tokyo, but shot blanks at the Games?
I think the problem analyzed all the way was that what was missing was the high performance side and the mental pressure, not the technical side, which is the training etc., because we (all countries) are all from same level at this level. That’s why you now see this push and focus on HPE (high performance management) and its mental side.
What exactly are we doing in terms of High Performance Management (HPE) and teaching athletes how to handle pressure?
A technical methodology is used to explain to athletes how to react under different stresses and circumstances and how to have plans A, B, C and D. Once this is instilled in the correct way in our athletes, I think (we will fill) the difference between winning a gold medal at the World Championships or World Cup and winning a gold medal at the Olympics. So I think we will be pleasantly surprised this time around.
