'No Extra Assurances Asked': NRAI's Pawan Singh On Bangladesh Shooters' India Trip | Exclusive

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 13:16 IST

Speaking to News18 Sports, Pawan Singh, Joint Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India, said that the Bangladeshi shooters were cleared to travel well in advance.

Pawan Singh says NRAI has full backing of the authorities. (Picture Credit: IG/juideshmukhsingh)

The National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) has clarified that there were no security concerns involved in hosting Bangladeshi shooters for the Asian Shooting Championships in New Delhi, starting February 2, even as Bangladesh recently refused to send its cricket team to India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, citing safety issues.

Speaking to News18 Sports, Pawan Singh, Joint Secretary of the National Rifle Association of India, said that the Bangladeshi shooters were cleared to travel well in advance and that their participation was treated as a routine international entry.

Singh said the NRAI received confirmation of Bangladesh’s participation last month, nearly one month before entries for the championship closed. He added that Bangladesh’s presence in the tournament followed the same process as any other participating nation.

“Yes, Bangladesh’s participation was treated as a routine international entry," Singh said, confirming that there was nothing exceptional about the process.

Addressing security and administrative clearances, Singh said that all standard approvals were granted without issue. “For Bangladesh, it was the same as for other countries," he said.

Singh further stated that the Bangladesh federation or government did not seek any additional assurances from the NRAI beyond standard protocols. “We have very strict protocols. I don’t think they needed anything additional. They did not ask. They know that the NRAI has very strict protocols," he said.

On whether any security concerns were flagged by Indian authorities at any stage, Singh was clear in his response. “Till now, no," he said, while adding that the situation could evolve following media reports.

Reiterating NRAI’s confidence as hosts, Singh emphasised that the association follows strict procedures for handling firearms and managing the movement of athletes. “We have very strict protocols for handling the guns and movement of athletes. This is not only for this situation; this has been the case in the past as well," he said.

Singh also underlined that the NRAI has received full backing from Indian authorities. “We are following the protocol, and we are also getting full support from the Government of India. We are not worried about this. So we are very, very confident that there will be no problem," Singh said.

The comments come amid heightened scrutiny over Bangladesh’s recent decision to pull out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup matches scheduled in India, a move that eventually led to their replacement in the tournament.

News sports other-sports 'No Extra Assurances Asked': NRAI's Pawan Singh On Bangladesh Shooters' India Trip | Exclusive

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