German shooter's gun stolen ahead of Shotgun World Cup held in Morocco

German sports shooter Vincent Haaga experienced a nightmare scenario at the Shotgun World Cup in Rabat, Morocco. Shortly before his scheduled start, his gun was stolen, forcing him to withdraw from the competition.

«It looks like my gun was stolen», Haaga told daily German newspaper Mopo on Monday. The 28-year-old arrived at the airport on Saturday only to find his gun case empty, containing only caps and glasses.

According to the German Rifle Association (DSB), the gun was surrendered during a police check, leading to suspicions it vanished within the airport's security area. Haaga immediately filed a police report to avoid potential legal repercussions.

Facing this unexpected ordeal, Haaga chose to temporarily use his father's «sister weapon», though it required adjustments. However, with his mental state affected and lacking his optimal equipment, he decided in consultation with his coach Axel Krämer that competing wouldn't be effective.

«I just want to go home», expressed Haaga, his Olympic qualification hopes temporarily dashed. He now aims to secure a spot at the Tokyo Games through the remaining qualifiers in Doha (April 19-29) or Lonato, Italy (May 15-25).

For the record, the SSF Shotgun World Cup 2024 was held in Rabat, Morocco from February 6 to 12.