PENNY Smith is in a waiting game as Shooting Australia's selection committee postpones its Olympics team announcement until at least the end of April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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The Bookaar shooter finished first overall in the top body's trap shooting selection series and was hopeful of competing at the Tokyo event in July.
But the coronavirus outbreak has cast doubt over the international event.
The Australian Olympic Committee said on Monday the situation - including travel bans and the spread of COVID-19 - was "untenable".
Australia is the second nation to announce athletes will not attend an April Olympics, joining Canada.
Shooting Australia chief executive Luke van Kempen said questions would remain unanswered until the International Olympic Committee decided the fate of the games in late April.
It's expected the event will now take place in the northern hemisphere summer of 2021.
He said the body would suspend its team selection process until a final decision was made. "We are communicating directly with our athletes on these matters to support them and to help interpret what this means for them," van Kempen said.
"This is really disappointing news after our athletes and their coaches and support crews. "But we understand the circumstances in which these decisions have been made and support the AOC in helping to provide clarity to our athletes and the Australian public."
Golfer Marc Leishman, who was also vying to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, is also waiting for a decision.
Nick Ansell
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
Nick Ansell is a sports journalist at the Warrnambool Standard.
