CWG 2022 | Shooter Heena Sidhu and National Rifle Association back IOA's call to boycott event over non-inclusion of shooting

Following Indian Olympic Association's call to boycott 2022 Commonwealth Games as shooting was excluded from event roster, shooters have backed body's call and have raised concerns regarding ill-treatment of sport, along with expressing fears of such treatment being meted out to or sports as well in future. 

'Boycott' a strong word but inevitable: Heena Sidhu

Shooter Heena Sidhu backed decision of IOA and said that although boycott was a strong word to be used, negligence of this issue could le to or sports receiving same treatment. She said that boycotting event could le or sports to suffer, however, possibilities of or sports being excluded following shooting's exclusion was also possible. 

Re her reaction here:

RE | CWG 2022 | Indian Olympic Association Mulls Boycott After n Inclusion Of Shooting In Commonwealth Games 2022

National Rifle Association extends support:

National Rifle Association of India extended its support to body's call for boycott, as Secretary Rajeev Bhatia expressed happiness with IOA's decision and said that body will support whatever decision IOA takes.

Re his reaction here:

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.

RE | CWG 2022 | After Indian Olympic Association's Call For Boycott, CGF Officials Say We 'absolutely' Want India's Participation