New Delhi:
Gagan Narang, one of India's most recognised shooters, is currently participating in the Commonwealth Shooting Championships. But he and the rest of the Indian shooters don't even know if they will get their due payment for participating in the tournament. After the hockey team, it's the shooters who've complained about pending dues, but are the authorities even listening?
Gagan shot a Gold at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in the 10m air rifle event, but he and some other Indian shooters haven't got their cash incentives for quite a few tournaments, including the Asian Airgun Shooting Championships last year where he had won Gold.
"For the future why would people take up shooting there is no motivation or cash incentives. There are only warm handshakes after you win. You don't get any prize money or corporate sponsorship," Gagan said.
Obviously the shooters are hurt, considering they've won India more medals than any other sport in the recent past. But they're not doing anything drastic like the national hockey team that went on strike last month due to payment issues.
"I told them there is no need to wash dirty in public. They can't run after these things, somebody else has to do it," said national shooting coach Sunny Thomas.
That somebody would have to be the National Rifle Association of India who'll have to approach the Sports Ministry to sort out of the issue. Cash incentives for several World Cup tournaments are pending, as is the salary for Sunny Thomas for close to 3 years.
Delay in payment and lack of cash incentives seems like too familiar a story in Indian sports these days. May be the shooting federation should take a cue from the badminton association, that has introduced a salary structure, so that athletes are motivated to compete.
Gagan shot a Gold at the Commonwealth Shooting Championships in the 10m air rifle event, but he and some other Indian shooters haven't got their cash incentives for quite a few tournaments, including the Asian Airgun Shooting Championships last year where he had won Gold.
"For the future why would people take up shooting there is no motivation or cash incentives. There are only warm handshakes after you win. You don't get any prize money or corporate sponsorship," Gagan said.
Obviously the shooters are hurt, considering they've won India more medals than any other sport in the recent past. But they're not doing anything drastic like the national hockey team that went on strike last month due to payment issues.
"I told them there is no need to wash dirty in public. They can't run after these things, somebody else has to do it," said national shooting coach Sunny Thomas.
That somebody would have to be the National Rifle Association of India who'll have to approach the Sports Ministry to sort out of the issue. Cash incentives for several World Cup tournaments are pending, as is the salary for Sunny Thomas for close to 3 years.
Delay in payment and lack of cash incentives seems like too familiar a story in Indian sports these days. May be the shooting federation should take a cue from the badminton association, that has introduced a salary structure, so that athletes are motivated to compete.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
