Shooting trouble in Jhajjar

Ravinder Saini

Tribune News Service

Jhajjar, April 22

Three players of the district — shooter Manu Bhaker and wrestlers Bajrang Punia and Somveer — clinched three medals in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games, but no shooting range and coaches are available at the government-level to groom the budding players.

Consequently, shooting players have to move to other places for training.

The government has appointed seven wrestling coaches in the district, but all of them are imparting training at private akharas (wrestling rings) due to non-availability of any government centre here.

Two hockey coaches are available — one each in Jhajjar and Bahadurgarh towns — but trainee players are compelled to practice on uneven surface posing a threat to their safety.

As per official information, 32 coaches of various games, including kho-kho, wrestling, kabaddi, athletics, hockey, volleyball, badminton, gymnastics, table-tennis, football, basketball, judo, wushu, boxing and yoga, have the responsibility to encourage and polish sports skills of growing players.

“We have to go to Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range New Delhi due to non-availability of 25-m shooting range in the state. Practicing in New Delhi is costly, hence poor players cannot afford it. The government should contemplate in this direction,” said a promising player of rifle shooting.

A woman hockey player said the Jahan Aara Bagh Stadium had uneven ground and it was difficult to practice. “The government provides wooden sticks to the trainee players, while fiber sticks are being used in modern hockey. The players have to purchase the security equipments on their own,” she added.