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The Bangladesh government has reportedly authorised its national shooting contingent to travel to India for an upcoming Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship 2026. This approval comes despite the government's recent decision to boycott T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, specifically citing security concerns.
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Bangladesh shooting to visit India for Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship 2026
According to reports from the Daily Star, the Youth and Sports Ministry has officially cleared the shooters to participate in the Asian Rifle and Pistol Shooting Championship. The event is scheduled to take place in New Delhi from February 2 to 14. This selective clearance has raised questions about the consistency of the government's security assessments, as the shooting team will be competing in the very same region deemed too dangerous for the national cricketers just weeks prior.
“We are considering two things. First, shooting is an indoor sport with limited spectators, unlike cricket which is played in large venues in front of big crowds. So there is hardly any security concern. Second, we want to promote friendship through sports. That is why we are hopeful the GO will be issued," Ehsan told The Daily Star.
Bangladesh is set to be represented by a small shooting contingent at the upcoming championships, consisting of two specialist rifle shooters. The team features 21-year-old rising talent Arefin Shaira and 26-year-old Olympian Md Robiul Islam. Both athletes are scheduled to compete in their respective 10m air rifle individual categories before joining forces to represent their nation in the mixed team event.
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NRAI confirms Bangladesh's participation
The confirmation of their participation comes after significant speculation that the shooting team might follow the cricket team's lead and withdraw due to security concerns. However, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) dismissed these rumors on Wednesday, informing PTI that the Bangladeshi athletes are officially confirmed to compete. This development highlights a striking contrast between the travel policies currently being applied to different sporting disciplines within the country.
“So far there is no news that the Bangladesh team is not coming. Their team is coming, no doubt about it. We at NRAI are in regular touch with them (Bangladesh federation officials). The Ministry of External Affairs has given its clearance and we have forwarded it to the (Indian) embassy for visa process,” said NRAI secretary Rajiv Bhatia.
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