 "Manu Bhaker will be hoping for a medal at Paris Olympics if she qualifies. NRAI image")
The Olympic Selection Trial (OST) for rifle and pistol shooters looking to book a spot at the Paris Olympics 2024 is currently underway at the Dr Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in New Delhi and it’s important to note the difference in the selection policy this time from before. Unlike the previous editions, where shooters, who had won medals at global events like the World Cup and World Championships, carried bonus points into OST, resulting in a big advantage, this time only shooters who have won Olympic quota places will be given bonus points.
Here we explain why the change in the Olympic Selection Trial was made and the specifics of the new process.
Why selection criteria was changed?
The major reason the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) changed the selection criteria is the Indian team’s poor performance at the Tokyo Olympics where 15 shooters participated but failed to win a single medal. It was felt that out-of-form athletes were sent to Tokyo due to a flawed selection process which gave more weightage to the medals in the past compared to the current form.
“Before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, there was too much padding of points. And, based on form before Tokyo, shooters who were nowhere close to their best still competed at the Games based on the points they had aggregated (in domestic trials, international competitions like the World Cups, etc),” NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia told news agency PTI last year when the news came out that selection policy could be altered.
“Some shooters were ahead by 5-6 points because of this padding and we couldn’t do anything as they had the numbers against fellow competitors.”
NRAI feels that with bonus points only awarded for winning the Olympic quota, the new trial process will create a level playing field and allow the federation to send their most in-form shooters to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsWhat is the new selection process?
As per the new selection trial policy of NRAI, a series of four trials will be conducted in each category but only the scores of top three will be considered. The Final Average Score for a shooter will include the average of the top three trial scores and quota points. Remember quota points will only be given to shooters who have won the Olympic quota places. The air pistol and air rifle shooters who won the Olympic quota will get one bonus point while 50m rifle and 25m pistol shooters will be given two bonus points.
India have won 20 Olympic quota places so far including a maximum of eight each in rifle and pistol shooting and four in the shotgun.
In the trials, only five shooters are eligible to take part in each category including the two quota winners and three other top shooters based on national ranking and qualification ranking for the Olympic Games.
The first two phases will be held in New Delhi from 18-27 April followed by the third and fourth phases at the MP Shooting Academy from 10-19 May.