The coronavirus outbreak has prompted six countries, including the deadly disease’s epicentre China, to withdraw from next month’s shooting World Cup here, the National Rifles Association of India (NRAI) revealed on Wednesday.

The ISSF World Cup is slated to be held from March 15 to 26 at the Karni Singh Shooting Range here.

“There were some countries which were coming but because of the coronavirus outbreak, their national policies dictate that they can’t come,” NRAI president Raninder Singh said. “China have taken a wise decision on their own as a nation. They don’t want to infect others and hence won’t travel. Taiwan, which has locked down their entire island, Hong Kong, Macau, North Korea and Turkmenistan have also backed out.”

Meanwhile, the association will not allow its shooters to travel abroad for training due to the coronavirus threat and won’t hesitate to pull out of a Tokyo Olympics Test event in April if it becomes a health risk.

Uefa stand

This week’s European competition matches will all be played as usual with fans except for Inter Milan versus Ludogorets Razgrad, which will take place behind closed doors on Thursday, the Uefa said.

More than 30 new cases were reported in Italy’s two worst-hit regions overnight taking the total to over 320, officials said. The death toll remained unchanged at 11.

Croatia, Greece, Austria and Switzerland have all reported their first cases in the last two days.

Tough for shuttlers

Kidambi Srikanth and Saina Nehwal, who are struggling to make the cut for Tokyo, will find the going tougher as the German Open BWF Super 300 Tournament, scheduled to be held next week in Mulheim, has been cancelled. Confirming this, Badminton World Federation (BWF) said in a statement that the organisers took the decision after being advised by the Mulheim's public health department.

Davis Cup tie

Japan’s home Davis Cup tie against Ecuador, to be played in Tokyo on March 6-7, will be held behind closed doors, the organisers said. The Davis Cup decision comes a day after J-League postponed all football matches until March 15.