However, their main aim is to ensure spots for London Olympic 2012 as Asiad could determine some spots for the Olympics. Meanwhile, Nepali shooters aim to lift rankings in Asia.[break]
A-four member shooting team, which includes shooters Asmita Rai and Chanas Rai as well as manager Raju Darshan and Coach Pradip Khati, is leaving for Asiad on Wednesday from Kathmandu. Meanwhile, shooters Sneha Rajya Laxmi Rana and Juhi Chaudhari , who are undergoing a Youth Project training in South Korea, will join the team at Guangzhou. The duo had reached Korea some two months ago.
"Our aim is to qualify for upcoming Olympics and to lift ranking among Asian countries," said manager Raju Darshan.
Nepal ranks fifth from the bottom in Asian ranking of shooting among 45 countries. "Nepal´s target is to secure a place among the top 30 during the Guangzhou Asiad," stated Pushpa Das Shrestha, the president of Nepal Shooting Association (NSA).
Nepali shooters will participate in three events of air rifle -- women´s 10 m individual, women´s 10 m team event and men´s 10 m individual. Nepali shooters will try to prove their mettle in the Asiad on Saturday. Rai, Rana and Chaudhary, who are participating in women´s 10 m air rifle individual event, will join hands for the team event.
Asmita is the national champion of 10 m air rifle since the last eight years. Her personal best is 384 points out of 400. Chanas is also the national champions of his event for the last ten years and he holds the national record in his name with the score of 588 among a total of 600 points.
Besides qualifying for the Olympics, the players too have set a target in the Asiad. "We will try to better the national records," said Rai duo.
The players and officials are satisfied with the training at home. The team has been undergoing training from June 28 at the Satdobato Shooting Complex. The team was assisted by shooting chief coach Dhruba Bikram Shah during the training.
NSA President Shrestha, however, lamented lack of abroad training. "Had all players been sent for abroad training, they could have put up a better show in the Asiad."
Nepali shooters practice on the wooden target and below standard lighting system. However, according to Shrestha, the team´s departure a few days earlier for Asiad could help them adjust with the lighting system and computerized target.
Meanwhile, NSA President Shrestha and other officials bade farewell to the four member shooting team that is leaving for Guangzhou on Wednesday and wished for the success of the team.
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