New Delhi: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Wednesday said a permanent solution needs to be worked out regarding the ace shooter's eligibility for participation in international tournaments.
IOA President Suresh Kalmadi, who met Bindra's father on Wednesday to discuss the issues concerning the shooter's training and participation in tournaments, said care would be taken to ensure that training schedule of elite sportsmen were not disturbed.
"Abhinav has our full support. He is our lone Olympic gold medallist, a role model and a symbol of Olympic glory. His father made certain requests which we will consider," Kalmadi told reporters after the meeting.
"We want more medals from him. He has a heavy training schedule and it should not be disturbed. A permanent solution has to be reached (regarding participation criteria for elite shooters liker Bindra)," the IOA chief said.
"We have to be more professional and treat players with respect. Elite players have certain requirements and we have to respect that," he added.
Bindra stirred a hornet's nest following his recent statement that he got so upset with NRAI's insistence to appear in trials that he felt like quitting the sport.
Instead, his argument was, NRAI should consider his scores in tournaments abroad and spare him from trials.
NRAI, however, cited government guidelines and stuck to their set criteria, leaving the Beijing Olympic gold medallist out of the squad for next month's Commonwealth Shooting Championships in New Delhi and the first two World Cups.
The Sports Ministry, however, said laying down the criteria was NRAI's job and the Ministry only ensured it was adhered to.
Kalmadi said he would talk to NRAI before a solution could be reached on Bindra's selection criteria.
AS Bindra, Abhinav's father, said his son was disturbed after he was called from his training abroad.
"I had certain requests and we put across our views today. Abhinav is little disturbed. My point is elite shooters train at different places, their international score should be considered. We also need better communication between Sports Ministry, NRAI and IOA," he said.
"We don't want more finance. Abhinav's training would be chalked out by the chief professor of Sports Science department of the Munich University. He has been following this training module for the last 15 years and has got used to it. We need cooperation from all. Let him train and compete the way he wants it. Abhinav will decide, in consolation with his coach, what is best for him," Bindra Sr said.
"There should be a ranking system for the Indian shooters and that should be the yardstick for selection. This is what the coaches believe," he added.
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