Manavjit Sandhu feliciated by Punjab government

Chandigarh, June 4 (UNI) Bronze medallist in 2006 Commonwealth Games, trap shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu was today felicitated by Chief Parliamentary Secretary (Sports and Youth Affair) Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi for his outstanding performances recently.

Congratulating the Amritsar-born shooter, Rana Sodhi promised to extend Manavjit full support to further raise his shooting standard.

Rana Sodhi said that the Punjab Chief Minister had promised to provide the shooter maximum support for purchasing equipment and ammunition for training and competitions.

Manavjit who started shooting in 1994, has improved his ranking to second position with 1457 rating points.

Training under foreign coach Marcello Drudi, Manavjit, winner of gold medal in 2005 Asian Championship in Bangkok, recently earned the Olympic quota berth for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He became the fourth Indian to book a seat for India in Beijing Olympics by winning silver in the ISSF World Cup in Kerrville. Other Indians are Gagan Narang, Angali Bhagwat and Rajayavardhan Rathore.

Manavjit, son of former international shooter Gurbir Singh Sandhu, is aspiring for gold in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. ''I am training hard to bring laurels to the country by winning a medal in the Olympics. I will be in Italy up to July 20 for training to fully prepare myself for the 49th ISSF World Shooting Championship in Zagreb (Croatioa) from July 21 to August 5, this year,'' Manavjit said.

Manavjit has promised to conduct clinics in Punjab whenever he is free from his training and competition.

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