The National Rifle Association of India today threatened they will pull out shooters, the country’s best bet at the Olympics, from the Beijing Games, alleging “shabby treatment” and lackadaisical attitude by the government in procuring ammunition.

NRAI general secretary Baljit Singh Sethi said he was disgusted at the attitude of the Sports Ministry and had “written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh”.

“I don’t think it will be worthwhile sending the shooters to the Olympics. The damage has been done. I will take up this issue in our General Body meeting next month,” Singh said. “It is a pity that shooters were the best medal hopes and they are treated so shabbily.”

Nine shooters, including Olympic silver medallist Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and world champions Abhinav Bindra and Manavjit Singh, have qualified for the August meet.

“For 23 years, the government had been providing us with all the ammunition, but the last two and half years they stopped. Now, they informed us on December 13 that we need an import license,” he said.

Mansher wins gold

Patiala: National champion Mansher Singh won the men’s trap event pipping Zorawar Sandhu and Manavjit Singh Sandhu at the Indian Masters Shooting Championship here today. Mansher tallied 139 (120+19) while Zorawar and Manavjit, each with 135, finished second and third after a tie-shoot.