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India will not boycott 2022 CWG over shooting exclusion
Shooting has always been one of the strongest events for India at the Commonwealth Games. Therefore to see that shooting was not included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham was bound to be disappointing. The indignation was strong in the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) who, under the leadership of their President, Raninder Singh, called for boycotting the 2022 CWG altogether. However, plans to do that has been abolished after the IOC President Thomas Bach's visit to India. The IOC President turned down the invitation to criticise the Birmingham organisers for not including shooting among the events that they will be hosting. Although shooting has been included by every single host since 1966, except in 1970 when it was hosted in Edinburgh, its inclusion in every edition ever since does not alter the fact that it is still an optional event and there is no compulsion regarding its inclusion. PC: Deccan Chronicles Being rather diplomatic in his attitude, Bach refused to comment on the matter and reminded people that the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation are completely separate bodies where decisions taken are not accountable to each other. He said, "[The] IOC is completely different than CGF and Olympics are different than Commonwealth Games. We [the IOC] are a totally independent body and do not interfere in other organisation's functioning." In the recently concluded Gold Coast 2018 CWG, Indian shooters definitely stood among the best performers, including youngsters like Manu Bhaker, Anish Bhanwala, Mehuli Ghosh and so on. Therefore, the NRAI's disappointment with the decision to not include the sport is justifiable. Earlier Raninder Singh suggested, "If the discipline doesn't feature in the schedule, India's position in the medal tally will drastically come down. I, therefore, strongly appeal to the Sports Ministry and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to withdraw Indian team from the 2022 edition of the Commonwealth Games." However, IOA president Narinder Batra has brushed aside the scope of India boycotting the event, although he seemed sympathetic to the cause. He said, "His anguish is justified, but to ask for a boycott of the Games because an optional discipline is not included is far-fetched." ALSO READ: Shooting has had a lasting effect on my personality
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