Dehradun: Sift Kaur Samra managed to take a 21-day hiatus between the National Championships and the current National Games. This marks the longest duration she has spent at home since joining the Indian junior team four years ago. The demands placed on India’s elite shooters necessitate Sift's participation in all selection trials and domestic events to secure her position on the national team.

Following her return from the Paris Olympics, Sift immediately resumed training for the state championships, which will be succeeded by the nationals in December.

“After the nationals, I returned home from January 1 to the 20th. It’s hard to believe that this was the first time since I began competing that I took a continuous break of 20-21 days,” Sift shared with HT.

The 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist has established herself as India’s most reliable competitor in the 50m rifle three positions event. She clinched the Asian Games title with a world record score of 469.6 in the final. However, at the Paris Olympics, she did not advance to the final, finishing 31st in the qualification round. This experience has prompted her to reflect deeply on her shooting techniques and her strategy for the upcoming Olympic cycle.

On Monday, she reclaimed her position at the top of the podium by securing a gold medal with an impressive score of 461.2 points. Anjum Moudgil earned the silver medal with 458.7 points, resulting in a 1-2 finish for Punjab. Surabhi Bhardwaj Rapole from Telangana achieved the bronze medal with a score of 448.8 points.

“Upon returning from Paris, I immediately resumed training in preparation for the state championships and subsequently the nationals. Unfortunately, I was not in good health during the nationals but still participated.”

This marks the beginning of a demanding season for the shooters. Following the conclusion of the National Games, they will engage in selection trials that will determine the team for the World Cups. This year, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) plans to conduct at least four selection trials, in addition to evaluating scores from designated domestic tournaments to finalize the Indian team, utilizing a moving-average-method ranking system. The selection process will consider the four best scores out of five, with evaluations occurring biannually.

“We do not have a break. In contrast to other sports that feature an off-season, shooting does not offer such a respite. We are participating in 12 to 13 events, including international competitions. It is quite demanding.”

“This relentless schedule can lead to burnout, as we are unable to plan vacations or family time to alleviate the pressures of shooting, which is a significant drawback. If we do not participate in all the trials, we risk missing out on team selection. There is no assurance that we will achieve favorable scores in every trial. I believe it would be beneficial to discuss this matter with the federation to explore potential solutions.”

This system is highly effective in keeping shooters alert and ensuring a competitive circuit; however, it offers limited opportunities for individual training. The requirement to be evaluated biannually necessitates that they maintain top rankings to secure a place on the national team. Any misstep could result in their exclusion from the team. Furthermore, the international schedule is densely packed with World Cups, Asian Championships, and World Championships, leaving no respite. Nevertheless, this year, the NRAI may consider sending a secondary team to participate in certain international events.

A leading rifle shooter expressed to HT that the continuous competition throughout the year hinders their ability to refine their shooting skills. "The schedule is so congested that I have ceased to make plans. We only focus on the upcoming competition and proceed from there," the shooter remarked.

Disappointment in Paris

Sift has taken time to recover from the letdown experienced during the Paris Olympics.

"It simply was not my day. I cannot pinpoint what went wrong. In India, the Olympics are the focal point; it feels as though everyone is scrutinizing you, and you must perform at your best. This has led me to reflect repeatedly on my performance. The atmosphere is different in other competitions. Four years is a significant interval, and I aim to concentrate on each competition individually."

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