Cyprus withdraws shooting team from competition in Doha

The Cyprus Shooting Federation has officially withdrawn its nine-member delegation from an international competition in Doha, Qatar, due to escalating security concerns in the Middle East. President Lenos Kyriakou confirmed that the decision was finalized in coordination with the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, citing statements by Iranian officials and the departure of teams from other nations as primary factors behind the move. The team is currently returning to Cyprus via Athens.

According to federation officials, the withdrawal was deemed necessary as international participation began to decline, with athletes from Sweden and Norway ceasing training and the Spanish and United States teams choosing not to participate entirely. A separate group of Cypriot shooters, originally scheduled to travel on Thursday, also had their trip cancelled. This decision follows a formal advisory issued by the Cypriot Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 30, which explicitly recommended that citizens avoid travel to Qatar amidst the regional instability.

The federation's actions reflect the broader climate of uncertainty in the region, with the CSO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely monitoring the situation. No further international events are currently scheduled for the team until the security environment stabilizes.