India’s threat to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham over shooting’s absence in the programme has intensified after the country’s Olympic association sought approval from the sports ministry for such a move.
Media reports have cited a lack of suitable facilities as the reason behind Birmingham’s decision to axe shooting which has featured at every Games since 1966, with the exception of Edinburgh in 1970.
After the decision was announced last year, the country’s shooting federation suggested boycotting the Games which would not feature what has been a high-yielding discipline for India.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra has written a letter to sports minister Kiren Rijiju seeking a meeting to explain the “proposed boycott”.
“We want to express our protest by not taking part in 2022 CWG Games…” Batra wrote in his letter to the minister seen by Reuters.
“We have been noticing over a period of time that wherever India seems to be getting grip on the game and performing well… either the goal posts are shifted or rules are changed.”
