Government Gives Green Light To IOA For Hosting Commonwealth Shooting In India

The Indian government on Saturday gave a nod to the Indian Olympic Association’s (IOA) proposal to host the Commonwealth Shooting and Archery Championship in India in 2022. Both the sports are not a part of the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which is to be hosted in Birmingham, roster.

The Indian government informed about its decision in a letter to the IOA. SPS Tomar, Deputy Secretary to the Government, has written a letter approving the proposals to host both these championships sent by the IOA. The letter read, “I am directed to refer to the Indian Olympic Association’s letter dated 1st January 2020, regarding holding of Commonwealth shooting and archery events in India in March 2022 and to convey the ‘in-principle approval’ of the government.”

Shooting is not included in the Birmingham Commonwealth Games-2022. To compensate for this, India had demanded the Commonwealth Shooting Championship to be held in India.

Earlier this week, IOA had relaxed its stand to boycott the Birmingham Commonwealth Games as Shooting was not included in the rost Instead, read the IOA decided to submit the proposal to host shooting championships, and argued that the medals won in the shooting championship should be counted in the tally of the 2022 edition.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) had written a letter to Narender Batra, IOA President, asking him to send a proposal in the beginning of January. The CGF took this step after a meeting of the International Shooting Sports Federation (ISSF) and the CGF on 5 December in Munich. NRAI President Raninder Singh was also present in this meeting. ISSF and Raninder had proposed in this meeting to organize this tournament before the Birmingham Commonwealth Games-2022.

It is to be noted that on Friday, IOA had written to the CGF president Dame Louis Martin, informing him about the cost of hosting the events. The letter read, “Whilst the costs outlined and enclosed in the shooting programs have been graciously accepted to be met largely by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the archery program will likely be funded solely by the Government of India.”