World has started taking note of Indian shooters: Samresh

Jalandhar, Apr 12 (UNI) Melbourne Commonwealth Games hero Samresh Jung today said the world has started taking note of the Indian shooters and they need good equipment and support from the government to regularly bring medals from Olympics and other international competitions.

Speaking at the sidelines of the 4th Sardar Sajjan Singh Sethi Masters Memorial Shooting Championship at the PAP Shooting Range here, Samresh said even the Government had now realised that Indian shooters can compete with marksmen from China, Korea and Japan.

''After the good showing at the Commonwealth Games, things have started moving in the right direction. Gagan Narang winning Olympic quota berth and gold medal in the recently concluded World Cup recently in China has proved that Indian shooters are capable to become top notchers in the world,'' he said.

''The new import policy announced by the Government will positively prove great for the shooters,'' Samresh added.

However, the stocky shooter was of the opinion that India needed smaller shooting ranges where they could regularly practice and get weapons as well as ammunitions.

''Getting an arms licence is not an easy job and these facilities are made available at smaller shooting ranges in small cities and towns. We can create shooters bank who will gradually graduate to high categories of competitions. With this we are bound to have more talent available.'' Admitting that he started shooting late at the age of 25, Samresh said he had no formal coaching and picked up some wrong basics which were difficult to be corrected now.

''However, due to hard work and determination, I was able to reach this stage. I am devoting five to six hours daily for rigorous practice,'' said Samresh.

''After getting into the national squad, I have been regularly getting ammunition and weapons. However, I like better quality weapons and ammunition and their quantity should be more,'' said Samresh.

Samresh added that his priority now is to get an Olympic quota by competing in the coming international competition in Brazil.

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