Commonwealth Games 2018 NOC declines NSSF request of accommodating shooting coach

While the Sri Lankan contingent for the Commonwealth Games 2018 reached the Gold Coast of Australia in different batches, the shooting team, including three athletes and its manager, is set to leave the country on 5 April. 

The three-member shooting team has a potential silver medallist in Suranga Fernando, who has performed impressively at recent events conducted by the National Shooting Sports Federation of Sri Lanka (NSSF).

But to the dismay of the athlete and NSSF officials, the touring party will have to go ahead without Suranga’s coach. In addition to medal hopeful Suranga, who is set to compete in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol and 50m Pistol events, the team includes Upul Kumara Wijeratne and Sanduni Perera. Wijeratne competes in the Men’s 10m Pistol event and Perera’s event is the Women’s 10m Air Rifle. 

Pradeep Edirisinghe has been appointed as the team’s manager. Unlike in other sports, in shooting the team manager has the herculean task of obtaining and ensuring Ministry of Defence clearances and Civil Aviation clearances at both ends are perfected due to the nature of the equipment.

However, the requests made by NSSF officials to include Fernando’s coach in the touring party have not been considered by the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka (NOC), who are the ultimate decision-makers on multi-discipline events such as the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics.

“We have observed that Suranga (Fernando) stands a strong chance of reaching the final round and is in line for the silver medal in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol event. It is sad that Suranga Fernando’s coach cannot accompany him at this juncture as Suranga scored 576 during the Commonwealth selection trial and at the last Commonwealth Games held in Glasgow, Scotland. The Indian shooter P. Nanjappa scored 580 points to win the gold medal then while the second and third in the final eight scored 578 and 574 respectively,” stated NSSF President Shirantha Peiris.

“At this level of competition to have his coach by him is critical to the athlete. However, under these circumstances, the National Shooting Sport Federation has supported Suranga with top grade ammunition and other equipment as requested by him and we are hopeful that he will perform at his best at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games.”

“It is essential to mention that the Ministry of Sports has extended its fullest cooperation to the NSSF to facilitate the performance of these three shooters. The NSSF must extend special gratitude to the Commander of the Navy for making the Welisara range available for these three shooters to practise,” he added.