Abhinav Bindra to head NRAI review committee on Rio Olympics shooting performance

After clinching a gold in the 2008 Olympics and two medals – a bronze and a silver – in the 2012 Olympics, India’s 12-member shooting contingent travelled to Rio hoping to improve the medals tally. But, among the 12, just two managed to enter a final. Abhinav Bindra finished fourth in 10m air rifle event and missed the podium by a whisker, while Jitu Rai finished 8th in the 10m pistol event. With the shooting team failing to win any medal, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has formed a five-member committee to review the shooter’s performance at Rio.

The NRAI order states that only in "matters specifically pertaining to the interview or findings/conclusions, if any, against or in favour of any Olympic team athlete that may be examined by the committee, the Chairman of the committee shall be exempt participation from such tasks by recusal, however, upon his own request he too shall make himself available for interview by the remainder of the panel," reported PTI.

Other members of the committee include former tennis player Manisha Malhotra, who has also been appointed as the Convenor of the committee, NRAI Secretary Rajiv Bhatia, and two journalists. The committee will hold its first meeting on August 30 or 31.