Shall firm up plans to resume training and competition, says NRAI chief after MHA order

The National Rifle Association of India on Monday said it will "firm up" plans to resume outdoor training of shooters after the home ministry permitted reopening of sports complexes during the fourth phase of the COVID-19 lockdown.

The national federation had locked the gates of all the shooting ranges in the country with the enforcement of the nationwide lockdown in March to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

NRAI president Raninder Singh sounded optimistic a day after the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines permitted reopening of sports complexes and stadia.

"We shall firm up plans to resume athlete training and competitions accordingly soon," Raninder told PTI.

"Having said that, whatever is done will be done keeping the health of our athletes, coaches and staff as top priority," added the federation's top official, under whose leadership the shooters blossomed into world beaters.

Raninder welcomed the move, weeks after he saw the ISSF World Cup in New Delhi, originally scheduled to be held in March, cancelled due to the unprecedented global health crisis.

"We welcome the new MHA guidelines permitting the opening up of sports complexes and stadia."