Published 17:27 IST, July 28th 2019
CWG 2022 | Shooter Heena Sidhu and National Rifle Association back IOA's call to boycott event over non-inclusion of shooting
Following the Indian Olympic Association's call to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games as shooting was excluded from the event roster, shooters have backed the body's call and have raised concerns regarding the ill-treatment of the sport, along with expressing fears of such treatment being meted out to other sports as well in the future.
Following the Indian Olympic Association's call to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games as shooting was excluded from the event roster, shooters have backed the body's call and have raised concerns regarding the ill-treatment of the sport, along with expressing fears of such treatment being meted out to other sports as well in the future.
'Boycott' a strong word but inevitable: Heena Sidhu
Shooter Heena Sidhu backed the decision of the IOA and said that although boycott was a strong word to be used, the negligence of this issue could lead to other sports receiving the same treatment. She said that boycotting the event could lead other sports to suffer, however, the possibilities of other sports being excluded following shooting's exclusion was also possible.
Read her reaction here:
National Rifle Association extends support:
The National Rifle Association of India extended its support to the body's call for boycott, as Secretary Rajeev Bhatia expressed happiness with IOA's decision and said that the body will support whatever decision IOA takes.
Read 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 the 2022 Birmingham CWG for dropping shooting from the roster, and sought approval from the government.
The IOA had earlier pulled out of the CGF General Assembly to be held in Rwanda in September, protesting the dropping of shooting. It also withdrew the nomination of its secretary-general Rajeev Mehta for the 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 not to join the other Commonwealth nations and territories in Rwanda for the 2019 CGF General Assembly; particularly as this is where the future strategic direction of the Commonwealth Sports Movement is debated and approved by our 71 members," the CGF official said.
Updated 17:58 IST, July 28th 2019