India pushes for inclusion of shooting in Commonwealth Games
India’s Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has asked the British government to intervene over the removal of shooting from the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
India won seven gold medals in the sport at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast, Australia.
In June, the executive board of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had decided to exclude shooting from the 2022 Games for the first time since 1970, following which the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had threatened to boycott the event.
In a letter to Nicky Morgan, secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Rijiju said the decision of the CGF executive board to exclude shooting is based on the premise that shooting had never been a compulsory sport and there is no venue available for holding shooting events.
“Unfortunately, at present, India is not represented in the Commonwealth Games executive council and in the functional committees of the Commonwealth Games. Therefore, it could not put forward its case for the inclusion of shooting in 2022 Birmingham CWG.
“As you are aware, the Commonwealth of Nations comprises 53 countries with a population of 2.4 billion. India alone has more than half of this. India has always been a strong votary and supporter of the Commonwealth and would continue to be so.”
“The Indian public takes keen interest in shooting events involving Indian shooters. In a constructive gesture, the International Shooting Federation has offered to share the cost of inclusion of shooting in Birmingham CWG. I request your personal intervention in ensuring the continued inclusion of shooting in 2022 CWG,” he added.
Yesterday, the Government announced a £46m cash injection to help boost tourism and jobs ahead of the Games, announced yesterday in Chancellor and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid’s spending review.
