Manavjit believes India's chances high in Beijing Olympics

New Delhi, Jan 7 (UNI) World champion trap shooter Manavjit Sandhu is all geared up for the Beijing Olympics to be held later this year and believes that this would be India's 'best chance' to bag a few medals.

Manavjit Sandhu who was present at the 1000-day countdown run for the 2010 Commonwealth Games said ''I am certainly looking for a medal and all the other shooters who have qualified for Beijing so far are in top form. We have the best chance to pocket a couple of medals this time.'' India's lone Olympic medal in shooting came at the Athens in 2004 when Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore won India a silver medal at the event.

Sandhu is leaving for Italy next month and will be trained by coach Marcello Dradi, under whose guidance he won a trap gold in the World Championship at Zagreb (Croatia) in 2006.

''It is a bit cold in Delhi so I am relaxing a bit. But I will start training soon. I have to fly out to Italy next month to train under my coach to prepare for Beijing,'' he said.

He seemed satisfied with the kind of support he received from the government for his training as he said ''I am happy with the support from the government and from the National Rifles Association of India.'' Manavjit will be accompanied by eight other shooters who have already qualified for the Beijing Olympics. Abhinav Bindra (10m Air Rifle), Anjali Bhagwat, Avneet Kaur Sidhu, Gagan Narang, Mansher Singh, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Samresh Jung and Sanjeev Rajput are the other qualifiers.

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