SAI to reopen Karni Singh Shooting Range for Olympic-bound shooters

As the Sports Ministry gears up to open sports complexes in view of Unlock 2.0, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has decided to reactivate the Karni Singh Shooting Range for Indian shooters and athletes preparing for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Training activities will be resumed in phases, with the first phase involving the opening of the Karni Singh facility for athletes who have a probability of making it to the Olympics as part of India’s core team of shooters. All precautions as per the guidelines issued by the government and the SAI SOP will be strictly adhered to at the ranges. Such guidelines ensure providing a safe training environment for the shooters while maintaining social distancing norms.

The shooters will have to book online training slots to avoid crowding at the range, with only a single-point entry to the range with adherence to thermal screening as per the laid-down protocol. The shooters will also need to download the Aarogya Setu app on their phones, with their health status being checked at the entry gate.

In addition, the operation of lanes and shooting stations has been restricted to ensure that social distancing norms are maintained between two shooters. Only 25/80 (10m), 25/50 (25m), 40/80 (50m) lanes for rifle and pistol and 03/06 shooting station in the shotgun ranges will be made operational to establish and sustain the “Do Gaz ki Doori” to enforce proper social distancing measures.

 The range has also incorporated “Dos and Don’ts” for shooters to prevent any contact between them. Such instructions include advising the shooters not to share their personal equipment such as guns, ammunition, sports jackets, sports shoes and sports glasses, and hygienic supplies such as hand sanitisers, water bottles, towels, gloves, etc.