The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, New Delhi

India's double-trap world record holder Ronjon Sodhi will not be able to take part in the Beijing Olympics after failing to bag a wildcard, a top official said today.

"It is really unfortunate," Baljeet Sethi, secretary of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), told AFP.

"Sodhi is in top form and he could have brought us a medal from the Beijing Olympics."

Sodhi, 28, did not make the nine-member Indian team as the double-trap berth went to Athens Olympics silver medallist Rajyavardhan Rathore.

Sodhi however shot into Olympic contention when he won the World Cup in Belgrade last month with a world record-equalling final score of 194 out of 200.

Ranked number five in the world, Sodhi was banking on a "hardship" quota that is awarded to an individual who fails to qualify but gives an outstanding performance in any of the official events.

"I had a chat with the international federation officials last night and they said they had no quota left in the double-trap," Sethi said.

"Sodhi deserved to be at the Olympics but this was not to be. We can only pray now that Rathore is able to win a medal."

Sodhi caught international attention when he upset a top-class field in Belgrade with his record-equalling score set by Italian Daniele Di Spigno at the 1999 world championships.

The bearded Sikh, coached by Olympic gold-medallist Mark Russell of Australia, matched the previous qualification record held jointly by Richard Faulds of Britain and Michael Diamond of Australia.

Both Faulds and Diamond are the top medal contenders in Beijing along with Di Spigno.