KARACHI: Foreign teams have started arriving in Islamabad to feature in the South Asian Shooting Championship, which will get underway at the Pakistan Sports Complex in the federal capital on Saturday.

Secretary of National Rifle Association of Pakistan (NRAP) Khalid Javed told 'The News' from Islamabad that a 22-mmeber squad from Bangladesh was the first to land in Islamabad on Wednesday. However, the teams from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal are scheduled to arrive today (Thursday), he said.

He said that around 130 participants including 45 from India, 22 from Bangladesh, two from Nepal, and 41 from hosts Pakistan will show their worth in the contest.

He informed that Afghanistan were also invited to the event, saying they were promised full facilities and protection and their embassy was also contacted in this connection but they refused to take part in the event which will last till November 27.

Khalid said that 16 events will be conducted in the six-day affair. He said on Friday all the shooting ranges at the Gun Club in the Pakistan Sports Complex will be opened for the participants for practice.