Chairman of ISF Digvijay Singh calls Bindra, Rana ungratefuls

Mumbai, Sep 18 (UNI) Terming them as ''ungrateful'', Indian Shooting Federation Chairman Digvijay Singh refuted the allegations of Olympics' gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and ace shooter Jaspal Rana that the federation has not helped them to achieve what they have.

Mr Singh, in a discussion on the pathetic condition of Indian Sports in Khel on NDTV, India, alleged that the shooters are ungrateful when they suggest that the federation has not helped them.

According to Singh, ''The success of shooters like Abhinav Bindra and Jaspal Rana has been possible due to the system set up by the Indian Shooting Federation, but success seems to have gone to their heads as these statements betray arrogance.'' Reacting strongly to Digvijay Singh's remarks, Asiad Gold Medallist Jaspal Rana said, ''The present system cannot produce champions.'' Rana on the same programme, however, said, ''I have not picked up my pistol after 2006, due to the paucity of ammunition, but till date no one from the federation has even bothered to find out why I am not practising.'' A S Bindra, father of the Olympic Gold Medalist Abhinav Bindra also had strong words to say about the working of the Shooting Federation.

Bindra further commented that the shooters have to spend their own money in order to buy ammunition and practise. He also demanded that the federation reveal their accounts, to show how the money is spent.

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