Gurgaon: Top shooters Ronjan Sodhi and Gagan Narang on Thursday expressed happiness over India's possible return to Olympic fold if the IOA holds elections without involvement of charge-framed persons and hoped they would be able to compete under the Indian flag in Commonwealth Games next year.
"It is a welcome relief for all shooters. I think we can breathe a little easy," Air Rifle shooter Narang told reporters here. "It's the greatest feeling to represent our country. Lot of our efforts goes into playing for India at the highest level. Hopefully good sense will prevail and we will be back into the Olympic fold," said the London Olympic bronze medal winner.
The IOA on Sunday amended its constitution to bar charge-framed persons from contesting elections, and the move was well received by the International Olympic Committee who now wants the Indian body to conduct its elections as soon as possible to ensure a smooth return to the Olympic movement.
"I hope that decision is taken the way it should be. So that we all are able focus on our training. The decision has to be taken soon as we have Commonwealth games coming followed by Asian Games," Narang said. Double trap shooter Sodhi said the things were moving in the right direction and was optimistic about IOC soon lifting India's suspension.
"I am very hopeful things will be sorted out soon and we will be able to compete under Indian flag in Commonwealth Games. There have been positive developments, and IOC also has expressed satisfaction over it," said Sodhi, gold medallist of the 2010 Asian Games.
Narang and Sodhi were present at the inauguration of a 10-metre indoor shooting range at Manav Rachna International School here. Olympic silver medallist Vijay Kumar was also present on the occasion. The trio will be in action at 57th National Championships at the Karni Singh shooting ranges in Delhi from Friday. National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) President Raninder Singh inaugurated the facility for budding shooters.
"Shooting as a sport has seen a tremendous rise in India in the recent years and the increasing number of shooting ranges is testimony to that. Our education system has accepted shooting as a huge sport which is a very good sign for our future," said Raninder.
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