The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday decided to scrap all 16 quota places for 2020 Tokyo Olympics which were on offer at the Shooting World Cup in New Delhi, due to denial of visas to Pakistan players.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday decided to scrap all 16 quota places for 2020 Tokyo Olympics which were on offer at the Shooting World Cup in New Delhi, due to denial of visas to Pakistan players.
The ISSF President Vladimir Lisin, in a briefing to media personnel, said: “IOC has decided that there will be no 2020 Tokyo Olympics quota places on offer at the New Delhi Shooting World Cup due to denial of visas to the Pakistan contingent.”
The statement came a day after Pakistan wrote to the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF), urging them to withdraw the Olympic quota places on offer in the 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Delhi World Cup, which begins on Saturday.
“Bad news is that Pakistan have not been granted visas for this World Cup and according to IOC (International Olympic Committee) charter, there should be no discrimination,” ISSF President Vladimir Lisin said at the opening ceremony of the tournament on Friday.
“IOC has asked us to distribute the Olympic quotas at different World Cup,” he added.
But NRAI President Raninder Singh has argued that the decision is not final yet. Speaking to reporters, he said: “Nothing is cancelled as of now. The status as of now is we don’t know. We are waiting. There are meetings that are going on where the position is being assessed by the IOC and Indian government.
Everyone is working very hard but it is very peculiar position. It is very unprecedented scenario and it is unfortunate.”
“He didn’t say that (all 16 quotas have been scrapped). He said may not be able to give quotas. He didn’t say it’s been withdrawn. You can take the clarification,” he added.
A three-member Pakistan contingent, including two 25m rapid fire pistol shooters, were originally to arrive in Delhi on Wednesday. However, days after the Pulwama terror attacks, NRAP officials claimed they were not granted visas.
ISSF general secretary Alexander Ratner on Wednesday had said they have received an email from the National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP), in which they have requested not to award Tokyo 2020 spots in the said event ‘since two of their shooters have not been granted visa’ by the Indian government.
Ratner had further said that the decision on allotment of quotas will be taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who got in touch with the ISSF on Tuesday regarding the issue.
The ISSF President Vladimir Lisin, in a briefing to media personnel, said: “IOC has decided that there will be no 2020 Tokyo Olympics quota places on offer at the New Delhi Shooting World Cup due to denial of visas to the Pakistan contingent.”
The statement came a day after Pakistan wrote to the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF), urging them to withdraw the Olympic quota places on offer in the 25m rapid fire pistol event at the Delhi World Cup, which begins on Saturday.
“Bad news is that Pakistan have not been granted visas for this World Cup and according to IOC (International Olympic Committee) charter, there should be no discrimination,” ISSF President Vladimir Lisin said at the opening ceremony of the tournament on Friday.
“IOC has asked us to distribute the Olympic quotas at different World Cup,” he added.
But NRAI President Raninder Singh has argued that the decision is not final yet. Speaking to reporters, he said: “Nothing is cancelled as of now. The status as of now is we don’t know. We are waiting. There are meetings that are going on where the position is being assessed by the IOC and Indian government.
Everyone is working very hard but it is very peculiar position. It is very unprecedented scenario and it is unfortunate.”
“He didn’t say that (all 16 quotas have been scrapped). He said may not be able to give quotas. He didn’t say it’s been withdrawn. You can take the clarification,” he added.
A three-member Pakistan contingent, including two 25m rapid fire pistol shooters, were originally to arrive in Delhi on Wednesday. However, days after the Pulwama terror attacks, NRAP officials claimed they were not granted visas.
ISSF general secretary Alexander Ratner on Wednesday had said they have received an email from the National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP), in which they have requested not to award Tokyo 2020 spots in the said event ‘since two of their shooters have not been granted visa’ by the Indian government.
Ratner had further said that the decision on allotment of quotas will be taken by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who got in touch with the ISSF on Tuesday regarding the issue.