Guns And Bosses: Para Shooters Caught In PCI-NRAI Crossfire

Sportspersons suffering due to administrative issues has long been the curse of Indian sport. Recently it was wrestling. Now, more than 700 Para shooters are trapped in a turf war between the Paralympic Committee of India (PCI) and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI). As a result, they do not know which tournaments to compete in. 

On Saturday, the PCI secretary general Gursharan Singh warned the NRAI against inviting Para shooters to its competitions, saying it was an "unauthorised" act.

The gist of PCI’s grouse is that NRAI has nothing to do with Para shooting. The PCI runs Para shooting in the country, and is affiliated to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). Internationally, Para shooters compete under the aegis of World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS).

NRAI is affiliated to the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF), which is governed by International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The NRAI recently issued multiple circulars asking Para shooters to participate in the Zonal/GV Mavlankar Championship held under its aegis, which baffled the PCI.

What has made matters worse is another NRAI circular asking Para shooters to register for the 42nd North Zone Championship in small bore rifle from August 16-24.

For Para shooters, things really became confusing when, on July 28, the PCI announced the fourth Zonal (North, South, East, West, Central) Para Shooting Championship for Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun events in Delhi from September 8-12. More than 700 Para shooters simply did not know which event to compete in.

"My suggestion to our shooters is they should compete only in competitions organised under the aegis of PCI. We are the ones who are authorised to give certification and verification (of level of disability)," Gursharan told PTI.

"If the NRAI is organising competitions for Para shooters it is completely unauthorised. We will issue a circular (asking shooters not to participate in NRAI events) shortly," Gursharan added.

"Despite we writing to the NRAI (to not meddle in our affairs), if they still do such things, it means they are not showing responsibility (responsible behaviour). They are willing to go to any extent (to take control of para shooting), which is illegal," he said.

"If they (NRAI) want to organise Para tournaments, they (NRAI) should take NOC (no-objection certificate) from us (PCI), or they associate with us in organising tournaments, or send their observers," he said.

The NRAI had "unilaterally" removed para shooting from all its competitions, including national championships, in 2019. That left more than 200 Para shooters stranded in the lead-up to the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

At the time, the NRAI said that since there was a separate organisation -- PCI – for Para shooting, it was removing the discipline from its umbrella. 

But the NRAI remains crucial for Para shooters for one important reason. Only they have the rights to import arms and ammunition for all shooters, Para included. 

"The NRAI can help Para shooting by assisting us with procuring arms and ammunition, co-ordinating with us, but we will not allow them to takeover Para shooting," Gursharan said.