Nipah scare forces cancellation of shooting event in Kerala

Vinayak Padmadeo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 24

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has cancelled a national championship and trials for the rifle and pistol team, scheduled to be held in Kerala, due to the Nipah virus scare in the state. The shooting range in Vattiyoorkkavu in the state capital Thiruvananthapuram was to host to 18th Kumar Surendra Singh Memorial Shooting Championships from May 31 to June 18.

Even though the incidence of the Nipah virus, which has so far claimed 12 lives, has been restricted to the districts of Kozhikode and Mallapurram, NRAI took the extreme step as it didn’t want to take any chances.

The national trials for the seniors/juniors and youth (men and women) in the rifle and pistol disciplines were to be held from June 7 to 17.

NRAI informed the Kerala-bound shooters of its decision through a notice published on its website. “In view of Nipah virus in Kerala, it has been decided to postpone 18 KSS Championship and selection trial 5, which were scheduled to be held at Trivandrum, Kerala... Fresh dates and venue will be notified shortly,” the notice read. “NRAI and Gagan Narang Sports Foundation, the unit hosting the event regret the inconvenience if any to all concerned,” the notice added.

The decision was taken late on Wednesday night as NRAI president Raninder Singh felt the federation should not risk even one shooter getting affected by the virus.

These were important events for the shooters — the scores from the KSS competition are taken into account to determine the national rankings.

Worried shooters

As the outbreak of Nipah became big news, worried shooters started getting in touch with NRAI on a daily basis to find if the competition and trials would be shifted.

Jaspal Rana, chief coach of the junior pistol team, led the pleas from the shooters, posting a message on the social media about the Nipah scare: “Got to know about the rare & deadly mysterious Nipah virus spread in Kerala! Evacuation in process. Request all to avoid going there & also, humble request to Raninder Singh ji to shift & postpone the upcoming shooting selection trial 5 & KSS Championship which is going to be held in Trivandrum Kerala from 30/05/2018.”

Delhi venue?

Sources suggest that the KSS competition and trials could now be held in New Delhi’s Karni Singh Shooting Ranges in June, though a formal announcement will be made at a later date.

Interestingly, the shooters are now flooding NRAI with calls and emails about who would compensate them after they cancelled their flight tickets and hotel bookings.

National camps on

It is understood that the national camps run under the aegis of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in Kerala’s capital are not to be shut/moved out just yet. There are two camps currently being run in Thiruvananthapuram, at the city’s Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education.

It is understood that SAI will dismiss the camps only if the Union Health Ministry or the State Government issues any advisory to this effect.