CWG ’22 archery, shooting in India
NEW DELHI: India will play host to the Commonwealth archery and shooting championships in January 2022 and medals won will be added to the final tally of participating nations at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games to be held from July 27-August 7 that year. The unprecedented move, which followed India’s threat to boycott the Games after shooting and archery were initially dropped, was given final approval by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) at its executive board meeting that ended in London on Sunday.
“The Commonwealth archery and shooting championships will be held in Chandigarh in January 2022,” CGF said in a statement.
The Chandigarh and Birmingham events will be separately organised and funded events. “One week following the closing ceremony of the main event in Birmingham, the CGF shall issue a medal table that includes the results from the Chandigarh competition to finalise the medal tally of the participating nations,” the CGF statement said.
The proposal from Commonwealth Games India (CGI) submitted to CGF last month, as a way out after the optional events were excluded, was backed by the Indian government and the world shooting (ISSF) and archery bodies. It was discussed with Birmingham Games organisers before the CGF’S decision.
CGF president Louise Martin in a statement said: “I am delighted that we have approved India’s ambitious proposal to host a Commonwealth archery and shooting championships in Chandigarh during 2022.”
India has dominated shooting in the Commonwealth Games and would have been a loser if the discipline had not been included. In the 2018 Gold Coast edition, Indian shooters won 16 medals, including seven gold. Shooting has been included in every Games barring one edition since 1966. Young Indian shooters like Saurabh Chaudhary and Manu Bhaker are expected to be at their peak when the Birmingham Games is held.
A decision to resolve the issue was taken following a meeting between the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and CGF here in November. Archery has featured in two CWG till date. The first was in Brisbane in 1982 and the second time was when New Delhi hosted the Games in 2010.
World Archery secretary general Tom Dielen issued a statement. “This is a fantastic development for archery and a great opportunity for elite athletes in India and from the across the Commonwealth.”
The ISSF in a statement said due to the Birmingham Committee’s refusal to conduct shooting competitions, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) took over the function with the support of ISSF. “We hope no special efforts will be required for the 2026 Commonwealth Games,” it added.
NRAI president Raninder Singh described the decision as unprecedented and innovative. “Acceptance of our proposal is truly a game-changing methodology to host a prestigious multisport event such as the CWG,” he said in a statement. “We look forward to work with all the stake holders to conduct an international event in a cost-effective and efficient manner.”