Shooters could have benefitted from longer training camp abroad: Sanjeev Rajput

Indian shooter Sanjeev Rajput feels the experience of winning a gold medal in the 2011 Changwon World Cup will hold him in good stead when another South Korean city, Incheon, hosts the Asian Games from 19 September.

“The 3-position gold I had won in Korea in 2011 will hopefully help. Asian Games is also being held in Korea, so that’s a plus point for me,” Rajput, who had clinched a silver medal at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, told PTI.

The 33-year-old Rajput, who hails from Yamunanagar in Haryana, is set to take voluntary retirement from Indian Navy and, “keeping his sporting achievements in mind”, is hoping to be recruited as DSP in the state police.

“I will retire voluntarily from navy this year. July 31st I was supposed to retire but I had taken two months extension as I did not want to run around for my release formalities at a time when the Asian Games and World Championships are around,” he said.

“I was offered the position of a police inspector in Haryana police but as per my achievements, I believe I should have been made a DSP. I have spoken to the Haryana government, and hope I get better offers in other departments.

“Navy also supported me a lot, there is no more promotion in navy for the next 15 years. In police, I can enter in officer ranks,” Rajput added.

Talking about the World Championships, which starts in three days’ time in Granada, Spain, Rajput said he was focused on his preparation and was not yet thinking about earning a quota place for the 2016 Rio Olympics. 64 Olympic quota places will be up for grabs at the tournament.

“I have been working hard on my weak positions - leaning and prone position I had some weakness in the past, so I am working on them. I am giving this a lot of time,” Rajput, who trained in Hannover after a “brief” stint in the capital, said.

The 2010 Asian Games silver medallist felt the training period could have been longer.

“It could have been much better if that was so. The camp should have been longer, the camp abroad should have been at least 15 days and I am sure our performance would have been much better.”

The Commonwealth Games was a different ball game altogether and the competition at Worlds will be much tougher, he felt.

“I would be placed 50th in World Championships with the scores I shot in Glasgow. The competition is of very high level, even higher than Olympics as only two players per country and per event compete in Olympics. In worlds, almost 150 players are eliminated on the first day itself.”

As far chances of Indian shooters earning quotas were concerned, he said, “Some players are very, very strong in some events. We should get something at least… there are high expectations from us as our standard has gone up in 7-8 years.”

Thanking non-profit organisation, Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ) for providing him assistance, Rajput picked Jitu Rai, Apurvi Chandela and Ayonika Paul as the ones to watch out for in the upcoming events.

“They have achieved a lot in the last one year, and Jitu especially, will have lots of expectations,” said Rajput.

PTI