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Vijay Kumar, Gagan Narang shell out entry fee at World Cup

London Olympics medallists Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang will have to shell out the entry fee in order to participate at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) which started in Changwon (South Korea) on Wednesday.

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Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang
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London Olympics medallists Vijay Kumar and Gagan Narang will have to shell out the entry fee in order to participate at the ISSF World Cup (Rifle/Pistol) which started in Changwon (South Korea) on Wednesday.

Desperate to book themselves on the plane to Rio de Janeiro for the 2016 Olympics, the duo could not garner the required qualification points at the national championships. According to the National Rifle Association of India's new selection policy, shooters who fail to register the Minimum Travel Scores (MTS) do not receive government backing.

Kumar won the silver in the 25m rapid fire pistol in London, while Narang took bronze in his favourite 10m air rifle event.

This is the first time that only 18 shooters have been selected under the new policy in comparison to the past where as many as 30 to 35 shooters used to travel on the government's expenses. The MTS, in 25m rapid fire pistol, was set at 579. But Kumar only managed to shot a maximum of 571. In the 10m air rifle event, a shooter had to register 623 points in at least two meets. And Narang could only shoot 626.4 twice during the trials and thus failed in overall scores. Narang will also be paying from his pocket to take part in the 50m rifle prone event.

It is reliably learnt that Kumar has received financial assistance from his employers, the Indian Army. No such luck for Narang.

Two other shooters, Heena Sidhu (sports pistol) and PN Prakash (free pistol) have also been allowed to participate provided they pay up.

Each nation can earn a maximum of 30 quota places at the Olympics, two each in all events. There will be 14 places to vie for in the men's competition and 10 in the women's section. The squad will compete in all 10 disciplines.

Jitu Rai had won India's first quota for the Rio Games when he finished second in the 50m free pistol event at the World Championships in Granada, Spain, last year. India's lone individual Olympic gold medallist, Abhinav Bindra, will also compete in the 10m air rifle event.

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