Indian shooter Manavjit Singh Sandhu was dealt with a major blow after he was refused permission to use his regular gun by the tournament director in the Asian Shotgun Championships, which is the Olympic qualifiers. The Olympian, as per Rev Sportz, claimed that it was a vendetta by the tournament director Abdullah Hamadi against him. He further claimed that he had shot for several years using the same gun in World Cups, Olympics and other events.
‘Shattered’: Indian trap shooter alleges vendetta over Paris Olympics
“I have shot with this same gun and the same stock for several years at World Cups, the Olympics and more events. This is a vendetta against India and me by the tournament director Abdullah Hamadi,” Manavjit told RevSportz on Sunday. “My stock is modified but it was cleared by the equipment control on Saturday. But the tournament director told me I will not be allowed to shoot.”
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Further, the trap shooter broke down in tears, alleging that his Olympic dreams have been shattered by this move. Sandhu claimed that he was victimized by the Arab lobby in terms of what would have been his fifth Olympics.
“My dreams of competing in my fifth Olympic Games have been shattered. I have been vicitimised by an Arab lobby. This is vendetta and an attempt to thwart India winning a quota. I have shot for 25 years plus and my weapon confirms to all norms,” he added.