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Japan withdraws from pentathlon event in Cairo

Xinhua, February 16, 2015 Adjust font size:

Japan on Monday decided not to compete in the pentathlon World Cup due in Cairo in March, following security concerns stemming from the killing of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State militant group.

The Modern Pentathlon Association of Japan had originally planned to field a team of eight athletes to compete in the March 19-23 World Cup, the second such event of the year, in the run up to qualifications for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

But citing "safety concerns" following the killing of the two Japanese hostages, the association pulled its participation, following other associations also canceling plans to send players to compete in competitions in the Middle East.

Other associations include the Japan Wrestling Federation, who canceled a trip to Iran, and the Japan Table Tennis Association which has pulled out of an international tournament to be held in Kuwait and Qatar.

The fencing and shooting federations are also deliberating whether to send teams to the Asian junior and cadet championships to be held in the United Arab Emirates at the end of this month, with representatives from the organizations stating that they are liaising closely with the foreign ministry here and international sports associations over safety details.

The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) said that while the athletes' qualifying for the 2016 Olympics would not be put in jeopardy, not competing could affect their preparations in the run up to the 2020 Olympics which will be held here in Tokyo.

The JOC, however, maintained that the athletes' safety remained the No. 1 priority. Endi