Sports Authority of India to reopen range in Delhi for shooters in Olympics core group

India’s core group of shooters preparing for the Tokyo Olympics can get back to training at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) deciding to open the state-of-the-art facility on Tuesday. It would be a big relief for the shooters who have not trained much since the lockdown began in late March. Air rifle shooters were still training at home or local facilities but 25m pistol and 50m rifle shooters were unable to train due to the dearth of ranges that allow firearm shooting.

Indian shooters have won 15 quota places for Tokyo, and most of them train at the Karni Singh ranges. The shooters have rented accommodation nearby. Some had returned home after the selection trials just before the lockdown. The shooting federation has named a core group of 34 shooters, including the quota-place winners, for Olympics preparation.

SAI said in the first phase, the facility would be opened only for those likely to make it to the Olympics and form part of the core squad. “All precautions as per the guidelines issued by the government and the SAI SOP would be strictly adhered to at the ranges to provide a safe training environment to the shooters and maintain social-distancing norms to prevent any transmission of the virus,” it said.