Cannot interfere but will explore diplomatic channels to get shooting back in CWG: Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday me it clear that government cant interfere in sports matter but promised to explore diplomatic channels to have shooting included in 2022 Commonwealth Games programme.

minister, who visited National Institute of Sports (NIS) here, said he is aware of pullout threat me by Indian Olympic Association (IOA) after Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) left out shooting from sports programme of Birmingham edition.

IOA h recently said it will t be averse to taking unprecedented step of pulling out of Commonwealth Games.

RE | Disappointed At Shooting Axe, IOA Says Pulling Out Of 2022 CWG Cant Be Ruled Out

Rijiju's predecessor Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore h last year written to his British counterpart as well to CGF President, urging m to intervene and ensure that sport remains a part of 2022 edition.

CGF, however, h left it to host nation, in this case England, to decide fate of shooting, which has always been an optional sport.

"I kw about this pull threat by IOA. But we can't interfere much. But a sport, where India have good chance win medals, we will try and take diplomatic steps to have shooting included," said Rijiju.

decision to leave out shooting dealt a big blow to India which h won as many as 16 medals out of 66 in 2018 Gold Coast CWG, and IOA said that pulling out of Games altoger cant be ruled out.

"Shooting is a big sport in India and for many shooters CWG is a stepping stone to Olympics two years later. It is a big setback for shooting as well as Indian sport as a whole. We have me representations to CGF, and government has also done that but still shooting has been left out," IOA Secretary General Rajeev Mehta h said recently.

Last year, National Rifle Association of India president Raninder Singh h called for India to boycott Birmingham Games if shooting sport is t included in roster.

RE | As One Of Great Sporting Rivalries Ends, Lee Chong Wei's Retirement Leaves 'Super Lin Dan' Ploughing Lonely In Olympic Furrow

Meanwhile, after inspecting facilities at NIS, Rijiju said that syntic track here has outlived its life and government was planning to relay track.

He said that government was also exploring possibility of various tie-ups with corporate houses to absorb national and international players so that y do t have to worry about ir livelihood while playing for country.