Bosnia and Herzegovina Paralympian Ervin Bejdić disqualified due to a 15-year-old pistol

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - Ervin Bejdić, a competitor in Para Shooting, a discipline of the Paralympic Games, was disqualified at the World Cup in this discipline, held at the end of this month in Osijek. 

"The reason for disqualification is a 15-year-old pistol," Bejdić told the Patria agency.

"Representatives from 48 countries participated in that competition. The national team of Bosnia and Herzegovina included members from clubs from Zenica, Živinice, Tuzla, and Sarajevo. I shoot with an air pistol at 10 meters, as there is no weapon for the other two disciplines," Bejdić added. 

According to him, he entered the finals as seventh-placed and was close to competing for medals. 

"I was disqualified during the weapon control because the trigger pull weight did not meet the standards due to the age of the weapon. I felt very sick after so many years of training. In Osijek, I set a personal and national record with 560 out of a possible 600 points. With that, I also achieved the norm for the World Championship, and the norm for the quota for the Paralympic Games. I was very close to finishing in the top three and securing participation in the Games," Bejdić explained, writes Patria. 

He added that he does not have sufficient support from institutions, which is a prerequisite for success. 

"Novi Grad, the club where I train, is barely surviving. The price of the pistol I train with is around three thousand euros. That is a negligible price for the results achieved. Our club receives 9,000 KM from the Canton of Sarajevo, which barely covers the costs of attending competitions. We simply do not have support for equipment," stated Bejdić. 

When asked if Bosnia and Herzegovina is now without a participant in the Paralympic Games, Bejdić told Patria that he achieved the norm for the World Championship in Australia at the European Championship in Belgrade. 

"The World Championship in Australia is my only remaining chance to achieve the quota for the Paralympic Games. If I don't get a new pistol, I will have to compete with the old one, and then it's questionable how everything will turn out. Air pistols are changed every year or two. My pistol causes ridicule at competitions; other competitors gather and watch in disbelief what we are competing with," Bejdić stated. 

He added that competitors from other cities have pistols and rifles provided. 

"Only we from the Canton of Sarajevo, the wealthiest one, do not have the funds. I am only talking about the pistol and ammunition. We are not asking for anything else, not training or additional equipment," Bejdić told the Patria agency and announced a new competition in Novi Sad. 

He said he will see what happens there and whether he will be disqualified. 

"I have been the national champion for ten years, and the cantonal champion for 15 years. I wonder how, with my results, I have not deserved minimal support. I continue to train, but the lack of that minimal support is quite frustrating," said Bejdić.