Six countries pull out of shooting World Cup in Delhi amid Coronavirus breakout

vel coronavirus outbreak has prompted six countries, including dely disease's epicentre China, to withdraw from next month's shooting World Cup here, National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) revealed on Wednesday.  ISSF World Cup is slated to be held from March 15 to 26 at Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi.

"re were some countries which were coming but because of Coronavirus outbreak, ir national policies dictate that y can't come," NRAI President Raninder Singh told reporters. 

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"China has taken a wise decision on ir own as a nation. y don't want to infect ors and hence won't travel. Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, rth Korea and Turkmenistan have also backed out because of national policies," he ded, referring to domestic travel restrictions imposed by governments of se countries.

NRAI chief also informed that Pakistan will also t be competing at event as country's shooters are busy familiarizing mselves with a new coach.

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'Pakistan was never coming'

"Don't' connect last time to this time. Pakistan was never coming. y have two athletes who have qualified for pistol events for Olympics," he said referring to denial of visas to Pakistani shooters in last year's World Cup which led to India's suspension from hosting international events for some time. 

"Mr Javed Lodhi (Pakistan shooting federation's vice president) has informed me that 'our coach in Germany is only available during that time and our shooters would much rar train for Olympic event than participate in World Cup'," Singh ded.

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Im Credits: PTI