Pak shooters hope to compete in Delhi

KARACHI: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has approved the ISSF recommendation to organise the “Asia Olympic Qualifying Competition for Shooting” in New Delhi, India, from 25 January until 3 February.
This will be a good chance for Pakistani shooters who participated in the 13th Asian Shooting Championship this month in Kuwait but were not able to win quota places for Rio Olympics since the IOC suspended the Olympic Qualifier status of the championship.
“We will definitely participate in this event. We need Olympic quota places and this is a good chance to win some,” said Usman Chand, who has bright chances of winning a quota place for Pakistan in shotgun category. “The only hurdle will be visa as India and Pakistan relations are strained these days,” he said.
Usman, who was denied participation in a shotgun championship in India some years back by the Pakistani customs authorities, said he was hoping that there would be no problem this time. “This is a big issue at Lahore airport. I hope this time they will consider the importance of our participation,” added Usman.
The International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) on Tuesday stated that thirty-five Rio 2016 Olympic Quota Places would be distributed for rifle, pistol and shotgun competitions in this event.
After the IOC decided, on 29 October, to revoke the Olympic qualifying status of the Asian Shooting Championship, the ISSF took immediate steps to ensure that the 35 shooting quotas would be awarded to Asian athletes in a high-level alternate competition.
The ISSF invited all member federations in Asia to submit proposals to host this competition. Five federations expressed interest.
After evaluating the proposals, the ISSF Executive Committee selected the National Rifle Association of India because it offered to organise all Olympic events in one competition at one place in New Delhi.
Each federation can enter a maximum of three athletes in the competition and two MQS athletes only plus one rifle/pistol team official and one shotgun team official.