Shooters’ twin target in Delhi World Cup

Bangladesh's top shooters will have dual targets -- Olympics quota places and monetary rewards from the Bangladesh Shooting Sports Federation (BSSF) – in the upcoming ISSF World Cup in New Delhi.

An 11-member team including eight shooters will leave for the Indian capital on March 17 for the World Cup, which will be held from March 18 to 29.

Although Bangladesh's shooters have participated in several online tournaments during the pandemic, this will be the first time in 14 months they will set foot outside the country to play a tournament.

There will be tremendous incentives for the shooters, specially in 10m air rifle and 10m air pistol events where Olympic quota places will be up for grabs. Bangladeshi shooters have so far failed to secure any quota place for this year's Tokyo Olympics, however, with less participation from top-tier countries due to the pandemic, the Bangladeshi shooters will have a great opportunity in Delhi.

The shooters' incentives were further boosted by BSSF's announcement of monetary rewards yesterday.  Gold medal winners will get Tk five lakh each, silver medal winners will get Tk three lakh each while there will be Tk one lakh reward for each bronze medal winner.

The Bangladeshi shooters will be allowed to train and participate the day after their arrival in Delhi.

Abdullahel Baki, Risalatul Islam and Rabbi Hasan Munna will compete in men's 10m air rifle event. Shooting team's coach Shafiuddin Khan Shiplu sees good chance of winning quota place in this event. "Shooters are doing very good in practice. We are going there with good training and good scores and there is an opportunity to win quota place in Delhi," said the coach.

Sharmin Akter Ratna, Syeda Atkia Hasan and Hritika will compete in women's 10m air rifle event. Shakil Ahmed and Armin Asha will compete in men's and women's 10m air pistol events respectively.