Manavjit to focus on Doha games

Chandigarh, Aug 5 (UNI) World champions in men's trap shooting Manavjit Singh Sandhu will now be focusing on the Doha Asian Games slated later this year.

On his return to home town after winning gold medal in individual and silver medal in team championship in trap events in World Championship in Zagreb last week, Manavjit said ''I have been working hard and would resume training in Italy soon''.

''This season has been very fruitful for me as I have been shooting consistently. After putting hard labour for over 12 years, I have achieved this milestone,'' he said while talking to mediapersons.

''My immediate task will be to focus on training hard for the Doha '' Manavjit said.

On becoming the world champion in Croatia, the Amritsar-born Punjab shooter said, ''I handled the pressure well and my fitness played aN important role in my triumph in Zagreb where I staged a rally from sixth position to the top in the final. With the implementation of new rules, I was more determined to shoot aggressively for the gold medal.'' Asked if he would like to repeat the World Championship in Zagreb (Croatia) and the Olympic Games, he said ''In technical terms yes, both are at par. However, the Olympic Games are certainly more glamorous.'' Shooting was getting more popular and its base was expanding particularly after the performance of the Indian shooters in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, the World Cups and the World Championship, he said. The Indian government had included shooting among the top priority games and the investment the government had been making have started bearing fruits, he added.

While pointing out that money from corporate houses had also started flowing into this sports discipline, Manavjit said that enough ammunition was not avaliable here and weapons and other related articles are all imported at a high cost.

''Big industrial house like Sahara Group should adopt shooting so that Indian shooters could win the elusive Gold medals in Olympic Games,'' he suggested.

''The time is changing fast as there are a large number of youngsters who have started knocking on the doors. Indian shooting team is getting younger and youngsters will push out the older shooters,'' he said.

Manavjit thanked the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh for promising financial assistance to import guns and ammunition. It is learnt that the Punjab Government has increased the cash prize to Rs 21 lakh from Rs 3 lakh for gold medal winners in the World Shooting Championship or the Olympic Games.

UNI XC HS MMS AY RK2004