The mixed doubles category has always been popular in the court games, but now, the category has made its way to the shooting ranges, as International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) has added two events in the 2014 Youth Olympic Games’ programme.
Mixed doubles team category in air rifle and air pistol will be included in the Games, which will be held at Nanjing, China, from August 16 to 24. “We are happy that International Olympic Committee (IOC) has accepted our proposal and these two events will be added in the Youth Olympic Games,” said ISSF secretary general Franz Schreiber while talking to DNA.
Schreiber said that the idea behind promoting the mixed doubles team event is to bring two countries together, as any shooter can choose his or her partner from any country. “This will bring two countries together and this way, the shooting fraternity will get a chance to exchange culture at the world level,” Schreiber added.
Indian national coach Sunny Thomas too backed the idea. “It will not only bring two countries together, but also help the sport promote,” he said. “Suppose, if a shooter from India selects his/her partner from Pakistan, then the partnership will not only bring good changes in the relationship of the two countries, but this way, the sport will also get popularity, as both the countries will support a single team,” Thomas added.
ISSF had earlier proposed the mixed doubles team category in the shotgun event of YOG, but the IOC did not accept the proposal as the event would have required an additional venue. “We had first proposed to include two new shotgun events, but this would have required an additional venue for shooting, and therefore the proposal could not be accepted,” Schreiber added.
Comments