NEW DELHI: India could face sanctions after two Pakistani shooters failedto get visas to attend a World Cup event in New Delhi, the sport’s worldbody said Wednesday, amid tensions over Pulwama attack.
Two Pakistani shooters, G.M. Bashir and Khalil Ahmed, and their managerwere to take part in the event but had not arrived for Wednesday´seve-of-contest formalities.
The International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) warned India ofconsequences.
“The ISSF World Cup in New Delhi faces an urgent situation as Pakistaniathletes cannot get entry visas to participate in the competition,” it saidin a statement.
The federation and the Indian organising committee are making “all effortsto solve the situation to avoid the discrimination of the Pakistani team”.
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“Besides that, the ISSF and the organizing committee are discussing thepossible consequences for India as a host country for future internationalcompetitions, in all sports.”
India, which has expressed a strong interest in hosting the 2032 Olympicsand 2030 Asian Games, could face International Olympic Committee (IOC)action if Pakistan is blocked from taking part.
The event, with 500 shooters from 58 nations, is a qualifier for the 2020Tokyo Olympics.
