Shooting: Jury cost Khurram a medal

Published March 30, 2006

KARACHI, March 29: Khalid Javed, secretary, National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP), has said that Pakistan could have won one more medal at the just concluded Commonwealth Games had country’s ace shooter Khurram Inam was not disturb by the jury in the first two rounds of the competition.

Olympian Khurram was deliberately disturbed by an Australian jury during the first two rounds on the opening day disturbing his concentration in addition to affecting his overall performance, he said on Wednesday.

Khurram secured 20 and 21 points out of 25 each in the first two rounds of skeet while he performed outstandingly in the next three bagging 24, 23 and 25 points which were third best on the second day.

The NRAP official said the jury apologised when team manager Karamatur Rahim complaint for disturbing shooters concentration for no logical reason.

Khalid said he would officially report the matter to the International Sports Shooting Federation (ISSF) for depriving the country of a sure medal.

MCPO Irshad Ali annexed silver in 25m standard pistol following a shoot-off after he tied at 568 points with an England shooter.

Irshad returned with two bronze, including team event, in centre fire pistol at the last Commonwealth Games.