Story of my contract termination: India's rifle coach Szucsak

(This is Laszlo Szucsak's version of the story. Watch this space for the other side of the controversy...coming soon)

New Delhi: I am not the kind of person to get into any kind of mudslinging with someone. But it would be silly on my part to keep silent when someone wants to sully my name in the media by feeding them with one-sided information.

Many a times, I've expressed my true love for Indian shooting by going out of the way to help them. I wanted to stay back in the country for a longer period and finish the task I had started. But given the way I was treated, I couldn't have stayed any longer; it was beyond my interest and safety.

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) secretary general Baljeet Sethi personally called me back after the Athens Games. But for months, I continued without salary or any kind of contract.

During the last four years, my boys have won a basketful of medals in various competitions at the Asian and World level. We've had a huge medals haul at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games. We were one of the richest countries as far as bagging Olympic quotas in rifle was concerned.

Nine months before my contact expiry, I expressed my willingness to continue in India till the next Olympics. I gave the authorities two conditions, and I though it was fair given the six years of service I had rendered to Indian shooters. My conditions contained not just the salary element but also the working methods.

I got no answer, just verbal promises. Six month before the expiry of my contract, I got another verbal promise. Three months before the expiry of my term, I was still waiting for a response.

I never wanted to bargain. I just wanted a plain 'Yes' or 'No'. My contact expired on August 31 2008 and still I had no offer from India. I returned home but kept in touch with my shooters. I was shocked to see that the entire training programme had been erased when I returned.

In November, I came back to India at my own risk. After some negotiations the SAI gave me a three-month contract. What a deal after six years of service! Later, on it was extended to six month. With great difficulties we were able to start training in December and it seemed everything was falling in place. The NRAI promised to 'complete' my salary but I never got it. Also, I did not get the two-year contract as promised.

I submitted my resignation on March 1. But till that time I had not signed up for any other country. I overheard two officials saying that 'Laszlo is bluffing'. My work is not a charity; it is a profession with a certain price and with required conditions.

My heart bleeds knowing that I will leave such great shooters and students like Anjali Bhagwat, Deepali Deshpande, Anuja Jung and Kuheli Gangulee who are the most experienced and still strong and the presently most shining Gagan Narang, Suma Shirur, Tejaswini Sawant, PT Raghunath, Sanjeev Rajput and Avneet Sidhu, I cannot mention everyone by name here as the list is very long. India is perhaps the richest country in terms of talented shooters.

It is not at all true that I am leaving India for higher salary. I hope to work in better condition. I am taking a big challenge as am starting again from zero but am confident about what I can do.
(Courtesy: indianshooting.com)