Foreign coach sought to guide Indian team

The NRAI has sought the services of a foreign trap coach to guide the Indian team till the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

Raninder Singh, the NRAI president, had earlier stated there would be no attempt to curtail the services of Marcello Dradi.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has sought the services of a foreign coach to guide the Indian team till the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. It will thus end the tenure of Marcello Dradi, the trap coach with the Indian team for more than two decades.

While felicitating the shooters for their excellent performances during the Commonwealth Games, the NRAI president Raninder Singh had categorically stated that there would be no attempt to curtail the services of Italian coach Marcello Dradi.

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It may be recalled that Dradi had a tough time trying to stop the services of the personal coach of Kynan Chenai, Mansher Singh, in the run up and during the Olympics in Rio.

The NRAI had said it would allow private coaches during the camps with the approval of the coaches concerned. Eventually, the equations changed and Mansher gained the upper hand as the national coach.

'Specific tasks'

The NRAI, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI), is willing to offer EUR 500 per day to the deserving candidate, and willing to step up further, if required. “The coach would be given specific task/targets to be achieved during the period of the contract,” says the statement of the NRAI, published on its website.

Despite the age being restricted to 60 years, there may be a relaxation for suitable candidates.