Shooting Word Cup in Delhi cancelled

NEW DELHI: The shooting World Cup scheduled to be held in two parts in the national capital in May was on Monday cancelled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Cup, originally scheduled to be held from March 15-26, was postponed to May barely four days before the start of the event.

“Due to COVID-19 pandemic the New Delhi Organising Committee has been forced to cancel Rifle/pistol and Shotgun World Cups. Both of these were due to take place in New Delhi,” the sport’s world governing body ISSF said in a statement.

After the postponement last month, it was decided to hold the tournament in two parts---rifle and pistol competitions from May 5-13, while shotgun competitions were set from June 2-9, later changed to May 20 to 29.

However, considering the situation, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) decided to cancel the tournament. The ISSF has also decided to call off the combined World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, which was to take place from June 22 to July 3.

“The health and safety of our athletes, officials, staff and of all members of our shooting fraternity are absolutely paramount,” the NRAI said in a statement.

This comes days after the ISSF cancelled the Munich World Cup in June and the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games, developments after which the NRAI also came under pressure from certain quarters to convey to the ISSF, its inability to host the tournament under the current circumstances.

Recently, three-time Olympic medallist shooter Rajmond Debevec had also called for cancellation of the New Delhi World Cup.