VISA REFUSAL TO PAK SHOOTERS: India event not to have Olympic qualifying status

ISLAMABAD: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has withdrawn the shooting Olympic qualifying round status from India following their government’s refusal to grant visa to the Pakistan contingent reported by a leading Indian website Scroll. In.

Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) has moved to IOC on Indian’s failure to upheld the Olympic Charter that guarantee visas to all countries willing to participate in the qualifying round.

“We have had a genuine case as we have submitted all the relevant documents with the Indian Consulate well in time for visa. Despite our repeated requests and reminders, India High Commission has failed to issue in time visa facilities to our contingent. We then have no option but to move to IOC to seek justice,” Lt Gen (r) Arif Hasan, president POA, told ‘The News’ when approached.

The POA president said he was not officially communicated by the IOC as yet. “I am not aware of the development as yet as efforts are being made to contact the international shooting federation and IOC. But if the website news is correct, I am thankful to the IOC for taking up the matter on merit and on priority basis by withdrawing the status of New Delhi’s World Cup shooting event as an Olympic Qualifier.” He said he would be in a position to give his detail version when the POA or the shooting federation receives official communiqué.

“We have not yet received anything from the IOC. Once we receive any communication from IOC we would be in a position to give our detailed version.”

The Olympic qualifier was to start from February 24 with the practice session already getting underway Thursday.

India has been bent upon to isolate Pakistan in sports and was seen creating hurdles in cricket, hockey, squash and other games. This time around its seems that Indians have fallen victim to their own conspiracy, denying the visa to Pakistan shooters.

Meanwhile, National Rifle Association of India President Raninder Singh was still hopeful that event would get the Olympic status.

“Nothing is cancelled as yet. The status as of now is we don’t know. We are waiting,” Singh said. “There are meetings that are going on where the position is being assessed by the IOC and Indian government. Everyone is working very hard but it is very peculiar position. It is very unprecedented scenario and it is unfortunate.”