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Hindustan Times
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Sports Bill will bring transparency and reform to federations: Gagan Narang
New Delhi: Olympic medallist-turned-sports administrator Gagan Narang believes the National Sports Governance Bill will usher in much-needed transparency and reforms in the functioning of National Sports Federations (NSFs). Olympic medallist-turned-sports administrator Gagan Narang believes the National Sports Governance Bill will usher in transparency. (Getty Images) 'It's a forward-looking, futuristic bill that can significantly transform the sporting ecosystem in the country. It will help athletes perform better by allowing them to focus with the right mindset,' Narang told HT. A key feature of the Bill is the creation of a National Sports Tribunal, intended to resolve disputes involving federations. Currently, there are multiple sports-related litigations across various courts in India, which has become a major administrative bottleneck. 'The Bill will address all legal issues plaguing federations. Also, if an athlete has a dispute, there will be a resolution committee in place. That means athletes can focus on their sport without the burden of legal battles,' said Narang, the bronze medallist in 10m air rifle at the 2012 London Olympics. After a long decorated career where he won an Olympic medal, a World Championships medal (2010, Munich,) and secured multiple podium finishes at Asian Games and Commonwealth Games, Narang has switched to sports administration. He serves as vice-president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and is also a member of the IOA's Athletes' Commission. In addition, he is part of the Mission Olympic Cell, which approves programmes for the country's top elite athletes. Having taken on multiple roles in sports administration, Narang believes that most issues can be resolved with the right intent and perspective. With his growing experience, he is quickly developing key administrative skills. Narang emphasised that the Bill's transparency measures, including making NSFs accountable under Right to Information (RTI) Act, are a step in the right direction. 'The governance structure will be clearer and more accountable. Most importantly, disputes will no longer derail an athlete's career.' He acknowledged that implementing structural change at the federation level will be challenging, but necessary. 'The key is to establish a governance framework. Once that's in place, we can build around it. Change won't be easy, but it's crucial for the betterment of Indian sport. Implementing these reforms is a step in the right direction.' He welcomed the Bill's provisions for grievance redressal mechanisms and inclusion of athlete and women representatives in the executive councils of federations. 'Athlete representation on executive boards will ensure athlete-centric programs. Women's participation is vital too — not just athletes, but also women coaches and administrators. The grievance redressal mechanism will finally have a structured form.' 'The government is respecting the autonomy of federations while ensuring ethics, fairness, and accountability. It strikes the right balance between freedom and responsibility. Our sports minister (Mansukh Mandaviya) spent long hours with top federation officials to discuss India's sporting vision and it reflects the government's serious intent and commitment to long-term development in sports,' he added. Narang said the Bill could play a foundational role as India prepares its bid for the 2036 Olympic Games. 'This is our moment. The Bill provides a platform to build the kind of governance infrastructure needed to support our athletes and help them perform at their best on the world stage.' On the recent resolution of internal differences within the IOA, Narang expressed optimism. 'It's a very good restart. Whether it was the Asian Games, the successful conduct of two National Games, or preparation for the Paris Olympics — the IOA always presented a united front. There were never any differences when it came to sports and athlete development. Whatever minor differences existed have now been resolved.' 'A little difference of opinion is healthy in any democratic setup. Now it's time to move forward and focus on the work ahead of us.' As a member of IOA Athletes Commission, Narang is gearing up to launch various educational programmes for athletes.
NDTV
16-06-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
India Records Four Medals At 2025 Shooting World Cup, Finishes Third In Medal Tally
The 36-member Indian contingent showcased a strong performance at the third 2025 ISSF World Cup in Munich, securing a total of four medals - two gold and two bronze. India finished an impressive third in the overall medal tally, trailing only the People's Republic of China and Norway, as per the Gun for Glory academy press release. Two-time Olympian Elavenil Valarivan, who trains at the Gun for Glory academy, opened India's medal account with a bronze in the women's 10m air rifle category, scoring 231.2. The 25-year-old also set a new national record during the qualification round of the same event, recording an exceptional score of 635.9. Adding to India's bronze medal count, rifle shooter Sift Kaur Samra secured third place on the podium in the 50m rifle 3 positions event with a final score of 453.1. Nineteen-year-old Suruchi Singh, who previously won gold in both the Buenos Aires and Lima legs of the 2025 ISSF World Cup, claimed her third gold in Munich in the women's 10m air pistol event, achieving a score of 241.9. The formidable duo of Arjun Babuta and Arya Borse further contributed to India's gold medal collection, registering a dominant 17-7 victory over the Chinese team to finish atop the podium in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. Another promising Gun for Glory athlete, Maddeneni Umamahesh, demonstrated his skill in the tournament, emerging as the only Indian athlete to rank within the top 8 in the qualification round for the men's 10m air rifle event, with a score of 632.3. "We train every day with the dream of winning something for our country. I am very grateful to the Gun For Glory setup, and specifically coach Neha Chavan, for their continued guidance and support in helping me excel in the sport I deeply love," stated Elavenil Valarivan as quoted by the Gun for Glory press release. Reflecting on her new national record, she added, "For me, breaking the record was reflective of all the effort my coaches and I put in before the tournament. I approached the qualifications with the intent of performing to the best of my ability, and I am glad it turned out well." Gagan Narang, a 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist and founder of Gun For Glory, commented on the team's performance. "It is so heartwarming to see Indian athletes doing so well on the international stage. I have always wanted to give back to the sport that has given me so much. Seeing these young men and women doing so well internationally makes me proud and grateful to have the opportunity to help support the development of sporting youth in India," Gagan Narang said. The next event of the ISSF World Cup 2025 for rifle and pistol shooters is scheduled to take place in Ningbo, China, in September.
India Gazette
29-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
Naraen Pranav, Mukesh Nelavalli among 11 Indian athletes to win medals at ISSF Junior World Cup
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): Indian athletes shone brightly at the ISSF Junior World Cup 2025, winning a total of 11 medals- three gold, four silver and four bronze medals. A 57-member Indian contingent was sent to the tournament, which was held in Suhl, Germany, from 19-27 May, of which eight athletes trained at the Gun for Glory academy, run by Gagan Narang Sports Foundation. Two promising athletes from the academy, Naraen Pranav and Mukesh Nelavalli, made the nation proud and returned with medals. Naraen won a silver and a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Junior Team event and 10m Air Rifle Junior Men event, respectively, whereas Mukesh grabbed a bronze medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior Men's event. Another athlete, Anushka Thokur, successfully made it to the finals of the 50m 3P Junior Women's event but finished 7th in the finals. All eight athletes from the academy, who represented India at the tournament, trained under GNSPF's Flagship Program Project Leap, a sponsored project that aims to inculcate holistic improvement in selected athletes, targeting technical, physical and mental aspects of the sport. On winning two medals in the tournament, Naraen Pranav expressed his happiness and stated, as quoted by Gagan Narang Sports Foundation press release, 'It feels great and is a major moment in my career so far. Just being able to represent the country on such a global stage is a great honour,r and to return with a medal makes it even more special. I would like to thank my coaches at the Gun for Glory academy and mentor Gagan Narang sir for guiding me at every step, because of which I was able to win these two medals', he said. The 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist, Gagan Narang, also expressed his pride in the achievements of the academy's athletes and said, 'We are extremely proud of these youngsters who made the entire nation stand tall at the ISSF Junior World Cup. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication and resilience they have put in their training all these years. Our academy aims to continue building many more such athletes and ensuring that the future of Indian shooting is in safe hands.' (ANI)
News18
29-05-2025
- Sport
- News18
ISSF Junior World Cup 2025: 11 Indian Athletes Win Medals
Last Updated: Indians won a total of 11 medals- three gold, four silver and four bronze medals - at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup. Indian athletes triumphed at the 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup, securing eleven medals: three gold, four silver, and four bronze. A 57-member Indian contingent participated in the tournament, held in Suhl, Germany, from 19-27 May. Eight of these athletes trained at the Gun for Glory academy, managed by the Gagan Narang Sports Foundation (GNSPF). Two standout athletes from the academy, Naraen Pranav and Mukesh Nelavalli, achieved notable success. Naraen secured a silver medal in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Junior Team event and a bronze in the 10m Air Rifle Junior Men's event. Mukesh claimed a bronze medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior Men's event. Fellow academy athlete, Anushka Thokur, reached the finals of the 50m 3P Junior Women's event, finishing seventh. Expressing his elation, Naraen Pranav commented, 'It feels great and is definitely a major moment in my career so far. Representing the country on such a global stage is a great honour, and returning with a medal makes it even more special. I would like to thank my coaches at Gun for Glory academy and mentor Gagan Narang sir for guiding me at every step, which enabled me to win these two medals." Gagan Narang, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist, expressed his pride in the academy's athletes, stating, 'We are extremely proud of these youngsters who made the entire nation stand tall at the ISSF Junior World Cup. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and resilience they have put into their training over the years. Our academy aims to continue developing many more such athletes and ensuring the future of Indian shooting is in safe hands." First Published: May 29, 2025, 13:31 IST
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
India announces 36 member squad to participate in 2025 ISSF Junior World Cup
New Delhi [India] May 14 (ANI): India has announced a 36-member contingent to participate in the 2025 International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Junior World Cup, scheduled to take place in Suhl, Germany, from May 19-27, as per a release from ISSF. Eight of these 36 shooters have trained at the Gun for Glory academy, which is run by the 2012 Olympics bronze medallist Gagan Narang in Pune. These eight athletes are Naraen Pranav, Mukesh Nelavalli, Anushka Thokur, Prachi Gaikwad, K. Tanishq Naidu (RPO), Sagnik Banerjee (RPO), Melvina Angeline Joel (RPO), and Vedant Waghmare (RPO). All these athletes have trained under Project Leap, a sponsored project designed in collaboration with Olympic Gold Quest for selected shooters to improve their performance in the physical, mental, and technical aspects of the sport. Started in 2017, the project has already held more than 60 camps. While Naraen will participate in the 10m Air Rifle Junior Men's and Junior Mixed Team events, Mukesh, Tanishq, and Sagnik will represent India in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol Junior Men's event. Anushka, Prachi, and Melvina will participate in the 50m 3P Junior Women's category, with Vedant competing in the 50m 3P Junior Men's event. We are incredibly proud of our athletes who will be competing at the ISSF Junior World Cup. Their hard work, talent, and unwavering dedication reflect the core values of our academy and foundation. We believe that they have the potential to achieve great success and make India proud. I would like to extend my best wishes to these athletes as they embark on this challenging and exciting journey,' said the former Indian shooter Gagan Narang. 'I am incredibly grateful to the Gagan Narang Sports Promotion Foundation for their unwavering support as I prepare for the ISSF Junior World Cup. Their guidance and resources have been instrumental in my journey, and I am honored to represent India on this prestigious platform. I hope to make my country and my mentors proud,' said Anushka as she gets ready to shine on the global platform.' (ANI)
