WRBA suspends Olympian Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in West Bengal, NRAI president to investigate
The West Bengal Rifle Association (WBRA) has suspended former India 50m 3 positions rifle coach Joydeep Karmakar from all shooting activities in the State.
The development comes after the Olympian shared a series of posts in January accusing the body of ‘corruption in a different level’ ahead of the 38th National Games in Uttarakhand.
“National Games Shooting Team is rigged! onus goes to West Bengal Rifle Association – WBRA!” Joydeep had posted on Facebook on January 18, tagging Verinder Dhall, the WBRA president.
In another post, he had said: “West Bengal selecting shooters who are 250th ranking or more neglecting 20th National Ranked shooter!”
On Thursday, Joydeep, whose son Adriyan had also participated in the Uttarakhand Games, added further context to those posts.
“Somebody needed to speak up for these kids, for it is unfair. As a well-wisher, I thought I needed to raise my voice. If they were doing the right thing, how come immediately after I made those posts, the deserving athletes were asked to submit their kit details? The policy needs to be questioned. If you are ever in doubt, just follow the NRAI’s (National Rifle Association of India) rulebook. It is written, scrutinised, published, and public.”
The three up-and-coming players who received late call-ups are rifle shooters Sandrata Roy, Srinjoy Datta, and Ashmit Chatterjee.
In a three-part communication, Joydeep was first issued a show-cause notice and suspension by Dhall on February 18. Two more notices followed in March, which asked Joydeep to shut down the operations of the Joydeep Karmakar Shooting Academy (JKSA) and Shooting Sports Club (SSC), Howrah.
“This is political vindictiveness. All I want to say is that you cannot put the future of these talented kids in jeopardy just because you want to take out your anger on me. These athletes are not involved in any manner. Why should they bear the brunt? I do not want to go into much detail here. But I responded to the show-cause notice within the stipulated seven-day period, saying I had received the same and I would be seeking legal advice and taking appropriate action,” Joydeep said.
It is understood that the 45-year-old has now approached the NRAI and its president Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo to get the order nullified.
“Being an Olympian who served the country & NRAI being the apex body of shooting sport in the country, I would appeal to you/NRAI, to take necessary steps so that such unprecedented & disrespectful ‘suspension’ is summarily nullified and action be taken so that no to repeat such shameful acts where an Olympian as well as several 100s of shooters are banned to play their own sport!” he wrote in a letter.
NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia said the matter will now be looked into by Kalikesh himself. He said, “We received the letter from Joydeep on Tuesday evening. The president is aware of the situation, and the matter will be investigated.”