Shooter Jitu Rai among seven athletes dropped from Target Olympic Podium Scheme

New Delhi: Top Indian marksman Jitu Rai was on Wednesday dropped from the Target Olympic Podium Scheme, along with three other shooters, on grounds of recent lack of form. Three track and field athletes were also dropped on the basis of recent below-par performances. The decisions were taken after a meeting of the Mission Olympic Cell. Commonwealth Games gold medallist table tennis player Manika Batra has been sanctioned Rs 2.4 lakh (approximately) for her training till the Asian Games. This amount includes her training with coach Sandeep Gupta, use of support staff (physiotherapist, fitness trainer and masseur) and purchase of playing equipment. [caption id=“attachment_4436797” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Indian shooter Jitu Rai. AP[/caption] Rs 93,555, which was already approved for Vinesh Phogat’s participation at the Gran Premio De Espana Wrestling tournament where she won the gold medal, was ratified at the meeting. “Proposals of TOPS shooters of about Rs 50 lakhs who will be representing India at Asian Games and World Championships were approved at the meeting. A thorough performance review of shooters under TOPS was also undertaken and four shooters including Jitu Rai were dropped from the scheme, on grounds of recent below-par performances and non-selection in Asian Games and World Championship squads,” a release from the Sports Authority of India said. The three other shooters dropped from the TOP Scheme are Yashaswini Deswal, Amanpreet Singh and Neeraj Kumar. Jitu won a gold each in the men’s 50m pistol event in the 2014 Asian Games and also bagged the yellow metal in the men’s 10m air pistol in the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in April. But he is experiencing a lack of form of late and he was left out of the Indian shooting team for the upcoming Asian Games. Meanwhile, under the funding clearances, Rs 2.93 lakh has been sanctioned to Anjum Moudgil, who participated in the 50m rifle 3 position event at the 2018 Commonwealth Games to procure ammunition for her training till the 2018 Shooting World Championships. “Skeet shooters Mairaj Ahmad Khan and Sheeraz Sheikh are both training under TOPS in Italy under world-renowned coach Ennio Falco. The committee approved the hiring of sports psychologist Giovanna Menditto and physiotherapist Bruno Beniamino for both shooters for a period of 10 days each at a combined cost of Rs. 6.13 Lakhs (Rs. 3.06 lakhs each),” the release said. An amount of Rs 3.25 lakh has been sanctioned to trap shooter Seema Tomar as financial assistance to participate in the Italian Open Green Cup competition from 21 July to 1 August. The expenses will also include ammunition and gun maintenance. “Rs. 6.43 lakhs has been sanctioned to double trap shooter Ankur Mittal. This amount includes the purchase of wooden stock, competition expenses for participating in the Italian Open Green Cup and training in Italy with coach Marcello Dradi at Conselice,” the SAI said. Another amount of Rs 8.6 lakh has been sanctioned to double trap shooter Shardul Vihan. Rs 6.53 lakhs will be for his training of 13 days with Marcello Dradi and the remaining Rs 2.06 lakhs will be for the purchase of shooting accessories. Rs 4.87 lakh has been sanctioned to pistol shooter Heena Sidhu. Rs 4.32 lakhs will be used for mental performance training with Dr Pierre Beuchamp. The remaining amount will be utilised for the services of a physiotherapist Dr Digbal Ranawat for a month. “Rs 5.51 lakh has been sanctioned to trap shooter Lakshay Sheoran for purchase of equipment and training in Italy towards his preparation for the Asian Games and World Championships. The committee has approved the purchase of equipment and ammunition worth Rs 9.59 lakh for 50m rifle 3 position shooter Sanjeev Rajput.” Rs 4.37 lakh has been sanctioned to trap shooter Angad Vir Bajwa for his training in Italy ahead of the Asian Games and World Championships. In athletics, Lili Das, who has represented India in 800m and 1,500m, was dropped on grounds of recent below-par performance. The committee is open to taking her back into the scheme, as she is reasonably young and is seen as a promising talent going forward. Men’s shot putter Om Prakash Karhana and 400m relay runner Mohan Kumar were also dropped from the scheme on grounds of recent below-par performance. About Rs 3 lakh was also sanctioned to four boxers Sonia Lather, Manoj Kumar, Gaurav Solanki and Shiva Thapa to purchase boxing equipment. This is over and above the equipment being provided to the Indian boxing team under Annual Calendar for Training and Competition.