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The Indian trap shooting team has not had a foreign coach for a long time now, with shooters competing in the Paris Olympics taking help of personal coaches. read more
 "British trap legend Peter Wilson expresses interest in coaching Indian shooters, prepare them for LA 2028")
Britain's Peter Wilson had won gold in the men's double trap event in the 2012 London Olympics, becoming the youngest gold medallist in the discipline. Reuters
After guiding compatriot Nathan Hales to trap gold in the recently-concluded Paris Olympics, British shooting legend Peter Wilson has expressed interest in coaching Indian athletes and prepare them for Los Angeles 2028.
The 37-year-old had become the youngest Olympic gold medallist in double trap during the 2012 Games in London and currently holds the world record in the discipline. He had taken up shooting after a snowboarding accident ended his chances of becoming a cricketer.
After double trap was removed from the Olympic curriculum, Wilson started coaching the Great Britain team in trap, with the crowning glory coming in Paris where his ward Nathan won gold with an Olympic record to break a 12-year-long wait for the country in the event.
“I have e-mailed my CV to the National Rifle Association of India and am waiting to hear from them,” Wilson told PTI from UK.
“I want to work with the senior team to prepare them for the LA Games and the juniors to prepare them for the next 8-12 years,” said Wilson, adding that he only aims for “success” and nothing less.
Read | Indian shooting at Paris Olympics: Three medals, heartbreaks and promise for better future
Asked if it would be a challenge coming to terms with the setup in India, he categorically said “there shouldn’t be any problem”.
He added that for him the continental championships such as the “Asian Games, the World Cups, World Championships among others are a stepping stone towards the ultimate aim of winning an Olympic medal” and he would strive for that.
Wilson, who has been honoured with the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) has been coached by the great Ahmad Al Maktoum, who is a member of the ruling family of Dubai and the 2004 Athens Olympics gold medallist in double trap.
India’s Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had finished second behind Al Maktoum in Athens.
India is without a foreign trap coach for quite some time with most shooters, who competed at the Paris Olympics, taking the help of personal coaches. Italy’s Marcello Dradi was the last trap coach the Sports Authority of India and NRAI had hired.
NRAI secretary-general Sultan Singh said, “He must have mailed the CV on the official e-mail ID. We have not yet taken a call on the date (when the new coaching setup for all shooting events will be in place). But, yes, it has to be done at the earliest.”
Asked if the coaches will be short-listed before the election of NRAI president on 14 September, Singh said, “Normally it should be once the president takes charge and he does it but if the situation demands that we have to hold the selection committee (meeting) then may be (earlier). Basically, it’s the exigency.”
On whether the likes of Italy’s double trap stalwart Daniele Di Spigno and David Kostelecky, the personal coach of woman trap shooter Rajeshwari Kumari, were also in contention for the job, Singh said, “We would like to have the best of the lot so that the drawing board is enough for us to calculate the requirement…”
When asked whether former foreign trap coach Dradi would be considered for the role, Singh said, “Till the time the selection committee does not say yes or now, I can’s say anything. All of these coaches are going to apply, I can’t take a call on my own. The coaches will be assessed from all angles,” he added.
With PTI inputs
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English (US) ·