We want India at Commonwealth Games, no question: UK minister

UK government has stepped in to back India in an ongoing row over Shooting being dropped from Commonwealth Games to be held in British city of Birmingham in 2022.

Britain's Sports Minister Nigel ams said that India was an important Commonwealth country and he has written to Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) to try and find a solution to impasse.

"We want India to be here, question," Minister of State for Sport, Media and Creative Industries said in a statement on August 13.

"I totally understand how passionate people are about shooting across Commonwealth. I've alrey written to Commonwealth Games Federation to see if we can accommodate shooting in some form, maybe a Commonwealth Shooting Championship," he said.

Indian Olympic Association (IOC) is set to decide next month wher to boycott Games after it was confirmed that shooting would t be included for first time since 1970.

India won a record 16 shooting medals at Commonwealth Games on Gold Coast last year.

David Grevemberg, chief executive of Commonwealth Games Federation, has also indicated plans to speak to IOC to try and find a resolution.

"India is a critical member of Commonwealth, we want Indian athletes to participate, and re is a strong Indian community in Birmingham which wants to celebrate se athletes," said Grevemberg.

A possible compromise where a Commonwealth Shooting competition could be std at Bisley in Surrey, inste of Birmingham, has been on cards.

However, Ian Reid CEO for Birmingham 2022, believes holding events outside of West Midlands region was t ideal.

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" panel determined that proposed location for shooting at Bisley in Surrey offered little or benefit to West Midlands, in a Games with a significant proportion of funding coming from region," said Reid.

"We have spoken with CGF and understand senior executives hope to meet with Indian Olympic Association soon to discuss ir concerns. It's our hope that we will be welcoming India to Birmingham in 2022," he said.

Birmingham 2022's stand is that shooting is t a core Commonwealth Games Federation sport, but an optional one and that in December 2017, it was t included in Birmingham's bid to host 2022 Games.

It inste proposed ding three sports women's Cricket, para table tennis and beach volleyball all of which can be std in venues in Birmingham or West Midlands, "bringing ditional benefits to a region that is providing substantial funding for Games".

Birmingham 2022 is being billed as first major multi-sport event to feature more women's medal events than men's after women's T20 cricket, beach volleyball and para table tennis were ded to programme.

It means re will be 135 medals available for women and 133 for men.

It also marks first time that cricket, a sport associated with many Commonwealth countries, has been included at Commonwealth Games since South Africa won a men's 50-over tournament in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

"We want every single nation and territory eligible to compete in Commonwealth Games, including India, to be in Birmingham in 2022," Reid ded. 

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