LAHORE: Pakistan has been awarded the hosting rights of the Asia Cup Shooting Championship 2023, which is the first big international shooting event for the country as the host.
According to details, Asian Shooting Confederation (ASC) circulated a hosting application on 13 March 2022 to member federations for the hosting of Asian Shotgun Cup and Asian Rifle/Pistol Cup in 2023.
Applications from several member federations were received and then presented to the ASC Executive Committee for the final decision after procedural reviews. “The majority votes from the committee were in favour of the National Rifle Association of Pakistan to host the Asian Shotgun Cup 2023 and Indonesian Shooting Association to host the Asian Rifle/Pistol Cup 2023,” stated ASC.
However, the dates of the events have not been finalized yet. “ASC will post the scheduled date for both competitions on the ASC Calendar as soon as final dates are submitted from the organizing committees,” stated ASC.
Secretary Rifle Association of Pakistan — Razi Ahmad Khan – said, that Iran and India were also in the line to host the championship but Pakistan was instead invited to host the Asia Cup for the first time.
Razi further shared that India is also set to participate in the Asia Cup since their shooters would need rating points for Olympics qualification. The Asia Cup will feature shooters from 25 counties including India.
It is worth adding here that President NRAP Zafar Mehmood Abbasi had directed the officials of NRAP in September 2018 to try to organise an Asian-level event in Pakistan. However, it seemed not possible for Pakistan at that time as an official of NRAP told this scribe that their infrastructure was the biggest hindrance in this regard.
