CWG 2022 | After Indian Olympic Association's call for boycott, CGF officials say we 'absolutely' want India's participation

Commonwealth Games Federation on Sunday said it "absolutely" wants India to participate in 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games after IOA wrote to government, proposing a boycott for dropping shooting from roster.

'Want India to participate'

CGF said it intends to meet with Indian Olympic Association officials in near future to help find a solution to concerns raised.

"We absolutely want India to participate wholeheartedly in Birmingham 2022 and look forward to meeting our colleagues in India over coming months to discuss ir concerns and future ambitions," CGF Media and Communications Manr Tom Degun told reporters in an e-mail reply.

India lashes out

In an unprecedented move, IOA President Narinder Batra on Saturday wrote to Sports Minister Kiren Rijuji, proposing a boycott of 2022 Birmingham CWG for dropping shooting from roster, and sought approval from government.

IOA h earlier pulled out of CGF General Assembly to be held in Rwanda in September, protesting dropping of shooting. It also withdrew mination of its secretary-general Rajeev Mehta for election of a regional vice-president as well as that of Namdev Shiragaonkar for a sports committee member.

"We are naturally disappointed that our colleagues in India have chosen t to join or Commonwealth nations and territories in Rwanda for 2019 CGF General Assembly; particularly as this is where future strategic direction of Commonwealth Sports Movement is debated and approved by our 71 members," CGF official said.

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Boycott on cards?

While proposing a boycott of 2022 CWG, Batra h lashed out at CGF leership for having an "India bashing mindset" and for "trying to change rules" whenever country does well in Commonwealth Games. He went to extent of saying that India is longer a colony of any country.

"We have been ticing over a period of time that wherever India seems to be getting grip of game and performing well, n somehow we find that eir goalposts are shifted or rules are changed. We feel it is time for us in IOA/India to start asking tough questions and start taking tough positions," IOA chief h said. 

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