Government bashing in Indian sports is fairly routine, and at times can get tiresome. But when shooting ace Jaspal Rana focused his guns on the Indian sports officials, he held stage with his sharp jabs and quick humour.
"Our (sports) vision is too long," quipped Rana during a media conference in Mumbai on Friday. "The Olympics are next year and we are already talking about the Commonwealth Games in 2010. They just want to put it forward, when the Commonwealth Games will be near they will talk about doing well at the 2012 Olympics. I don't think with an attitude like this India has a great chance in shooting at the Beijing Olympics."
In the city to support the senior citizen's run at the Mumbai Marathon, the 30-year-old from Delhi criticised the country's sports budget, saying it was hardly enough to maintain the present facilities, leave alone get them upgraded.
"The cricket board is the only one making money. Being an autonomous body they have marketed the game well and have earned so much.
"If we want to finish cricket in this country, give it to the government.
"Our sports budget is so small, it is almost equal to some of the sports budgets of universities abroad. The facilities we have are outdated, the world has moved so far ahead but we haven't."
Rana applauded the BCCI for starting a scheme -- setting aside a sum of Rs. 50 crores for other sports -- but termed it essentially as "charity".
"It's a good thing they are doing. But it is like charity; why does Indian sport need help from outside, from an independent body? At this stage we should be able to support our games.
"Despite individuals doing well in shooting, we hardly receive any support from the government. When they have to import ammunition, they call for tenders and buy the cheapest brand. How are we supposed to shoot, do well, when they refuse to move out? Similarly, in other sports, India did not do well in hockey in Doha. How can we when we go there without our best player?" he asked.
Rana scooped three gold medals in pistol events at the Doha Asian Games, winning the individual and team gold in the 25m centre fire pistol event and a gold in the men's 25m standard pistol event.
Rana, who won the first shooting gold medal for the country 12 years ago at the Hiroshima Asiad, said he had proved himself by claiming the honour of India's most successful athlete in Doha.
"We were there for the medals, not the holiday," he said, pointing to the bloated officials' count at the Asiad. "But no, I don't play cricket, life hasn't much changed since Doha."
The shooter also shrugged off suggestions that he would explore politics as a possible career next.
"I've been a victim of politics for the past 14 years, where's the question of entering it?"
While most promotional press conferences during the event were closed due to the lack of questions, this one had to end because of the excess of them.
