SAI Examines Complaint Involving National Shotgun Coach

The Sports Authority of India has asked its officials to examine a complaint concerning a top national shotgun coach involved in India’s preparations for the upcoming Asian Games. The matter relates to allegations of a conflict of interest connected to a contract for the construction of shooting ranges in Chennai.

A senior SAI official said a complaint had been received at the authority’s head office and that the stadia division and the regional director of Delhi had been asked to look into it. The official said no report had been received so far, meaning the examination remains at an early stage.

The coach works with the National Rifle Association of India in training leading shotgun shooters for international events, including the Olympics, ISSF World Cups, World Championships and National Championships. With the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4, the issue has drawn attention because of its potential connection to the coaching setup.

SAI says complaint will be reviewed under procedure

According to the SAI official, the complaint was filed under the complainant’s name rather than anonymously. The official said that because it was a named complaint, it would be examined in accordance with government procedures.

A former shooter told PTI that the complaint concerns the tender process for five shotgun ranges proposed in Chennai, estimated at Rs 15-16 crore. The former shooter said the unsuccessful bidder had approached the vigilance department after the coach sought the contract.

The same source alleged that the coach could be omitted from the coaching contingent for the Asian Games because an inquiry was pending. The source also said the NRAI could leave him out of its list of coaches for the Games. These claims were attributed to the former shooter, while SAI’s official position in the report was that an examination had been requested and that no report had yet reached the senior official.

NRAI secretary-general Pawankumar Singh said via text message that he was on a flight and unable to comment. NRAI president Kalikesh Singh Deo did not respond to repeated calls, text messages or WhatsApp queries, according to the report.

In a statement sent through the public relations agency managing the NRAI, the federation said it had no knowledge of any personal business or commercial activities undertaken by any particular coach. The federation also said it was not aware of any vigilance inquiry concerning any coach.

The NRAI added that it had received partial approval for the list of coaches for the Asian Games preparatory camp, with certain names omitted, and was awaiting further clarification and directions from SAI. The shotgun coach named in the complaint did not respond to phone calls, according to the report.

Separate inquiry also concerns rifle coaching

The report also said a High Performance national coach for rifle shooters is facing a separate SAI inquiry. Manoj Kumar, the head coach for 50m rifle events, is under investigation over allegations that he conducted private coaching at the government-owned Karni Singh Range and discriminated against shooters who did not attend those sessions.

A hearing was recently held at SAI headquarters, where grievances from affected shooters and their guardians were heard, the report said. The two matters concern different coaching roles within India’s shooting programme, but both arrive during preparations for the Asian Games.

For now, the key confirmed development is SAI’s decision to have the named complaint involving the shotgun coach examined. The NRAI has said it has no knowledge of a vigilance inquiry and is awaiting guidance from SAI on the preparatory-camp coaching list.