National shooting camp in Pune called off due to swine flu

Swine flu scare in Pune on Monday forced the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) to wind up its month-long training camp which was scheduled to get over on August 25.

India's top shooters including Gagan Narang and Anjali Bhagwat were among the 100 participants in the camp at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune to prepare for next year's Commonwealth Games.

"With the facility in Delhi not yet ready, there is no other range to shift the camp and so it has been called off today," NRAI General Secretary Baljit Singh Sethi said.

He said two days back all the shooters were issued protective masks as a precautionary measure to reduce the risk of contracting the H1N1 virus.

Sethi said he acted on the reports of coaches present at the camp.

"The shooters were scared and feeling the pressure to continue at the camp and we also did not want to take any chances. So coaches also recommended that the camp should be held sometime later. The new dates are still to be decided," Sethi said.