Pakistani shooters get Indian visas

Olympic qualifiers

KARACHI: India has issued visas to Pakistan’s 10 shooters who are to take part in Asia Olympic Qualifying Competition for Shooting in New Delhi from January 25 to February 3.

“The officials of Indian embassy called today and informed me that they had issued visas to all 10 shooters,” Razi Ahmed Khan, Executive Vice President National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP). “We are leaving on the 23rd from Karachi,” he added.

He said they were counting on G M Bashir and Usman Chand for winning quota places for Rio Olympics and that Kalim Khan was also expected to perform well. According to the entry list for the competition, Ghufran Adil is to participate in 10m Air Rifle event; Shehzad Akhtar is to take part in 50m Pistol event; Ghulam Mustafa Bashir is to play 10m Air Pistol event.

Usman Chand will take part in Skeet event; Mehwish Farhan is to participate in 25m Pistol and 10m Air Pistol events; Mehak Fatima will play 10m Air Rifle event; Khurram Inam will take part in Skeet event; Bilal Khan is to take part in 50m Pistol and 10m Air Pistol events.

Kalim Khan will take part in 50m Pistol and 10m Air Pistol events, while Shahid Mushtaq is to participate in 50m Rifle Prone and 10m Air Rifle events.

As many as 575 athletes from 32 nations are taking part in this championship at Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range.  There are 35 Olympic quota places up for grabs at the competition.