Rana confirmed the development to TimesofIndia.com on Wednesday, saying “I am expected to fly around the 11th of June”.
With a national camp at home not possible amid a severe second wave of Covid-19 in India, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) decided to hold the camp in Osijek.
Rana, along with fellow national coaches Ronak Pandit and Samaresh Jung, had earlier decided not to travel due to personal reasons. The national squad flew to Croatia on May 11.
“The NRAI president (Raninder Singh) never said ‘no’ to us. He always wanted us to go. It was only that we three wanted the team to train here,” said Rana.
But after he made himself available now, the process for Rana to join the team in Croatia is on.
(The Indian shooting squad reached Croatia on May 11 – Photo courtesy NRAI)
“I was asked on May 25th to submit documents for visa on May 27th, but it was too short a notice for me as I had to take out all my details and also didn’t want to travel (to Delhi) at that stage,” said Rana, who is currently in Mussoorie.
“I now hope that it (appointment for visa) will happen on Monday (May 31). I have to fly by the 11th or 12th of next month, as I have to serve a seven-day quarantine in Osijek before I am allowed to join the team,” the Dronacharya award winner told TimesofIndia.com.
The ISSF World Cup runs from June 22 to July 3 in Osijek. Before that, the Indian shooters are currently playing in the European Championships in the MQS (minimum qualification score) category on invitation.
After the World Cup, Rana will travel with the squad to the Olympics.
A healthy mix of youth and experience is the hallmark of the Indian @Tokyo2020 #shooting contingent. #aishwarytomar… https://t.co/IgFTjHkhCH
— NRAI (@OfficialNRAI) 1622175917000
Pandit left for Croatia today, Jung to fly next month
Meanwhile, Pandit has left for Croatia with India’s chief pistol coach Pavel Smirnov.
Smirnov couldn’t join the Indian team right from the start of the camp in Croatia due to a delay in the visa process.
Pandit and Pavel flew on Saturday morning, while Jung is scheduled to board his flight on June 6.
While most of the coaching staff is expected to be with the team at the Tokyo Olympics, it has been reported that only Smirnov and rifle coach Oleg Mikhailov will stay with the team for the entire duration of the Games. The rest of the coaching staff could be rotated.
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