NRAI defends Indian shooter Manavjit Sandhu, clarifies no unfair advantage sought

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), which has termed as 'unjust' the disqualification of trap shooter Manavjit Sandhu from the Asia Olympic Qualifiers in Kuwait due to his 'faulty' gun, has told the appeal jury that the shooter did not want to take any unfair advantage.

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Shotgun coach Vikram Chopra has written a letter to the appeal jury of the tournament, a copy of which is with PTI. Chopra has written that former world champion Manavjit has not violated the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) rules as the organizers had said while disqualifying the Indian player. Shooter Manavjit Sandhu was not allowed to participate in the practice session on Saturday while he was disqualified on Sunday. This decision was taken after his gun was declared defective.

The two rules under which Manavjit's gun was declared defective are 9.4.2.11 and 9.4.1 (a,b). "Rule 9.4.2.11 does not mention any height restriction on the 'butt recoil pad'," Chopra wrote to the jury in Manavjit's defense. Rule 9.4.1(a,b) deals with unfair advantage. Regarding this, Chopra has written, "This rule does not apply because in this case no unfair advantage has been taken because the shooter has not taken any electronic or other kind of assistance."

The Jury chairman Hassan Binhdia, in his decision on Sunday while disqualifying Manavjit wrote that, "The jury decided not to allow the shooter to use the gun with the vertical extension made by the shooter."

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"The jury committee created to see the protest decided to deny the protest because the gun specification does not comply with Rule 9.4.2.11, which is saying (any butt plate-toe vertical extension, which is not an integral part of the buttstock and simply intended to increase its depth is not permitted. Thirdly, the gun does not comply with Rule number 9.4.1 (a,b) equipment restriction." A butt plate, made usually of metal and attached to the butt end of a gunstock, helps shooters get the right fit on their shoulder and to adjust their cheek on the stock before firing.