India will not participate in ISSF World Cup in South Korea due to 14-day split

The tournament, known as the International Shooting Sport Federation, is scheduled to be held in a Korean city from April 16 to 27

India will not be taking part in the ISSF World Cup in Changwon in April due to South Korea's two-week mandatory separation rules, which will come in the way of shooter training. The tournament, known as the International Shooting Sport Federation, is scheduled to be held in a Korean city from April 16 to 27.

"Our shooters will not be taking part in the World Cup in Korea as there is a 14-day mandatory separation. This means they will not be able to train at that time," a senior official of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) told PTI on Monday.

The tournament in Korea is a World Cup with archers from rifles, pistol, and shotgun competing for top titles.The official said the shooters would not be released on solitary confinement on the orders of concerned South Korean authorities.

India is also scheduled to host the joint World Cup from March 18 to 29, at the national capital Dr Karni Singh’s Shooting Range. Earlier, a World Cup rally was held in Cairo from February 22 to March 5. Indian shooters were also due to join their foreign counterparts at the Tokyo National Examination Ceremony from April 25 to 30 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. The Japanese capital is expected to host the Olympics in July and August this year. All the upcoming tournaments will be part of the Tokyo Olympic preparations. The World Cup in Baku, Azerbaijan, scheduled for June, will be the last international competition before the Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile, NRAI has announced the dates for the 64th national tournament, which will start on April 10 at all venues. Gun events will be held in Bhopal from April 14-29, a gun competition in Delhi from April 11-29, and a shotgun event from April 10-24 at the same venue.