'Boycott to withdrawal' IOA still threatens a pullout from 2022 CWG

The much-hyped meeting between the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on Thursday turned out to be a damp scuib with both parties refusing to budge from their respective positions as uncertainty still loomed large on India's participation in 2022 CWG in Birmingham."We broke an ice. We had a fruitful discussion. We had dialogues with an open mind and that was important," was the common refrain from both sides juggling around with words but the basic content remained the same.

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The differences between CGF and IOA

While the CGF pointed out that shooting was never a core sports and was always remained an optional one and its inclusion or exclusion entirely depended on the host city, squarely blaming the Organising Committee (OC) of Birmingham for its non inclusion, IOA made it clear that they have not backed down from their demand of pulling out from the 2022 Games.

"I must use the right word. It's not boycott which we said six months back. The right word is withdrawal. Our stand continues. We are still contemplating withdrawal. IOA Executive Committee and General Body will take a final call on the issue," IOA president Narendra Batra told newspersons in presence of CGF President and CEO.

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Rajiv Mehta gives a clarification 

IOA secretary general Rajiv Mehta, however, seemed busy clarifying why shooting was not included exposing that IOA was a divided house with many in favour of participating despite shooting's exclusion.CGF President Dame Luise Martin said they understood IOA's concern but at this stage, there wasn't any solution as the matter was not with them anymore and the call was taken by the OC. "But we will organise a separate Commonwealth Shooting Championship and may add the medals of that event into the total medals tally of the Games."India has been winning most of its medals including gold in shooting in previous editions of CWG and its exclusion will have a direct bearing on India's medals tally.

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