Shooting trials for the women’s 10m Air Pistol event for the Asian Games were delayed as organisers of the event held at the Karni Singh Ranges wanted those gathered there to pose for pictures in special T-shirts made for on the occasion of Yoga Day, which was celebrated on Thursday, The Tribune reported.
According to the report, KSSR administrator Manjushree Dayanand allegedly stopped the trials in order to complete the photo-op. In fact, she also got into an argument with National Rifle Association of India observer Ronak Pandit over the issue.
Pandit reasoned that the photo could be taken after the conclusion of the trials, but his suggestion was shot down, the report stated.
Dayanand, though, refused to comment on the matter. Sports Authority of India director general Neelam Kapoor, meanwhile, insisted that no shooter was compelled to participate in the photo-op and added that there was no disruption in the trial.
Pandit, though, claimed that the trials, scheduled to begin at 8am commenced only at 9.15am.
“These are the Asian Games trials we are talking about and they should not have been disturbed. The trials could only start by 9:15am, though a few of the shooters had trooped in as early as 7am,” Pandit was quoted as saying.