Pakistan shooters withdraw from Asian Airgun Championships in Delhi

New Delhi: Following in the footsteps Chinese team, Pakistan shooters have reportedly opted out of the Asian Airgun Championships, which starts on September 25 at Delhi's Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range.

The National Rifles Association of Pakistan's (NRAP) was supposed to send a 12-member contingent to take part in the eight edition of the championship. But According to a report in DNA, despite reminders from National Rifles Association of India (NRAI), NRAP did not forward mandatory entry list.

The Pakistan shooting body has blamed on the lack of funds and also the no Olympic quota place available for the withdrawal.

"We have our own financial constraints. We don't receive enough funding unlike our Indian counterparts. Our team will be participating in the Asian Shooting Championship in Kuwait from November 1 to 12 as the event will offer the maximum quota places for Rio Olympics from the region," NRAP honorary secretary Javed S Lodhi told DNA.

"The Airgun championship in India will offer no quota places, so it doesn't make any sense to send our team there. The NRAP has to be very selective when it comes to participating in tournaments due to lack of funds," he added.

Shooters from 13 countries will participate in the meet, with a strong Indian contingent which includes the likes Abhinav Bindra, Gagan Narang, Jitu Rai, Apurvi Chandela, Prakash Nanjappa, Chain Singh and Gurpreet Singh featuring in the seven-day competition.

But some of the top shooters like, men's air rifle world champion Yang Haoran, multiple Olympic medallist in men's air rifle Zhu Qinan and current Olympic champion in women's air rifle shooter Yi Siling will not be in action as China have already decided to skip the event.