All Indian shooters to be vaccinated before European Championship

The contingent will then stay back at Zagreb and leave directly for Tokyo in the start of July.

Olympic-bound Indian shooters will get vaccinated on Thursday before leaving for Zagreb, Croatia on May 11 in a chartered flight to participate in the European Championship. the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) said on Monday.

The competition will take place from May 20 to June to June 6. The squad will be staying back in Zagreb for training. They will then directly leave for Tokyo in the first week of July for the Olympics.

The NRAI are making all arrangements in association with the Croatian Shooting Federation. They have also made arrangements for a chartered flight for the entire squad to fly to Zagreb. This is in order to nullify the threat of contracting the coronavirus.

India is facing a devastating second wave of COVID-19. This has left the health care system in disarray. Most hospitals struggling with essential supplies like oxygen, ventilators, beds and life saving medicines.

All members of the squad including coaches and officials of the Indian shooters will also take the vaccine before their departure, the NRAI said.

India is currently in the the throes of a huge second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has left the medical system in complete disarray. An average of 3.5 lakh cases are being reported every day. This is why the NRAI are taking this step to ensure maximum safety.

Last month, India had named a 15-member squad for the Tokyo Olympics. This is the first time that so many shooters from India are participating in the mega event. This is a sport where India has the maximum chances of clinching a medal.

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