A total of 15-member Olympic-bound Indian team will leave for Zagreb, Croatia on 11 May in a chartered flight to participate and represent India in the European Championship, held in Osijek from 20 May to 6 June.
“Our endeavor is to ensure that our Tokyo-bound athletes get the best training in a safe environment. Therefore, @IndiaSports has decided in tandem with @OfficialNRAI to base India’s 13-member (15-member) shooting squad for training in Croatia for 78 days from 10th May,” Kiren Rijiju tweeted.
Our endeavour is to ensure that our Tokyo-bound athletes get the best training in a safe environment. Therefore, @IndiaSports has decided in tandem with @OfficialNRAI to base India's 13-member shooting squad for training in Croatia for 78 days from 10th May. pic.twitter.com/GIPZJCfscT
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 9, 2021
The squad will then take part in the ISSF World Cup, in the same city, from 22 June 2021 to 3 July 2021. Following the preparation and the contest stint in Croatia, they will immediately leave for Tokyo to compete in the Olympics, beginning on 23 July. Also, the combined World Cup in Osijek is being organized there instead of in Baku, Azerbaijan as it was canceled due to a surge in COVID-19 cases in that country.
India is already facing a surge and devastating time for the nation and this step will give the Indian Squad sufficient training and time to practice well. Plus, before they represent India at Tokyo Olympics they will play European Competition as well. And practice will be a crucial part of a foreign land as India has not a conducive environment.
