ISSF World Cup Final 2024: Paris Olympics gold medalist and other top British shooters to miss the event due to confusion over visa paperwork

The ISSF World Cup Final 2024 has suffered a significant blow with the absence of several top British shooters, including Paris Olympics gold medalist Nathan Hales, due to confusion over visa paperwork. The event, set to take place at the Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range in New Delhi starting October 15, will now be without some of the sport’s most prominent names.

Nathan Hales, who made headlines after clinching gold in the men’s trap at the Paris Olympics 2024, won’t be part of the prestigious competition. Hales set an Olympic record by hitting 48 out of 50 targets in Paris, a performance that cemented his place among the elite. However, he and two other British shotgun shooters, Matt Coward-Holley and Ben Llewellin, will not be able to compete in New Delhi due to issues surrounding their visa applications.

Peter Wilson, the 2012 London Olympics gold medalist and personal coach of Nathan Hales, spoke to PTI, shedding light on the circumstances that led to the unfortunate situation.

Explaining the visa complication, Wilson stated:

“No, he’s (Hales) not (coming). They couldn’t get their business visas in time. I don’t know the exact ins and outs of it, but there was a complication... I think, what happened is that one of them (shooters) applied for a tourist visa, which was accepted."

Further elaborating on the situation, Wilson added:

"But then, they were told that they had to apply for a business visa, and there was, for whatever reason, a complication, and it was either revoked, and the rest were left pending, and they just didn’t have the time for it to be processed.”

Peter Wilson expressed his deep disappointment over the absence of the British shooters, including Hales, from the ISSF World Cup Final.

“Obviously, it’s a massive shame that they’re not competing. So, there were three (shooters), two in men’s trap, Hales and Matt Coward-Holley, and one in men’s skeet, Ben Llewellin. Ben got a tourist visa but was then told by our federation that he should reapply for a business visa. He applied incorrectly, and at that point, he had left it too late; apparently, he was refused... I don’t know why he was refused,” Wilson explained.

Regarding where the responsibility for the confusion lies, Wilson noted:

“I would assume so, but I think at the moment no one knows quite where the blame lies.”

---

NRAI president reacts to the absence of the British shooters from ISSF World Cup Final 2024

Kalikesh Singh Deo, the president of the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), also expressed disappointment over the absence of the Great Britain shooting team, particularly the Olympic gold medalist.

“But it’s just a shame that of all the teams, we’ve not got the Great Britain team and the Olympic gold medallist here, so it’s a real shame. I think there was some confusion with the way they applied,” Singh Deo said.