Tokyo Olympics postponed: Indian shooters face uncertainty, NRAI has big decision to make
April 2, 2020
The postponement of Tokyo Olympics to 2021 has affected the athletes and the federation of their respective sports as an additional year of preparation adds to their cost.
In India, the shooters are facing uncertainty not just in financial terms but also about their participation in the Games next year.
The National Rifle Association of India were to finalise the team for the Olympics only for the Games to be pushed ahead.
Now the NRAI have a decision to make. They must either pick the team based on trials that have happened in the last few months or keep holding trials in the coming months and pick a team closer to the rearranged Games.
The first choice will allow the shooters headed for the Games to train with a free mind till the Olympics without any pressure of bagging the quota places that India have secured. The problem, however, is that the shooters may lose form over the course of next year and India may not send its best team for the 2021 event.
But if NRAI decide to continue trails, they can pick the most in-form shooters for the Olympics. However, continuing with trials would not just burn out the shooters before the Olympics, but also keep them uncertain about their place in India’s squad for the Games.
