India to host Commonwealth shooting, archery championships, medals to be counted for Birmingham CWG

India will host the Commonwealth shooting and archery championships in January 2022 and the medals from the two events will be counted for "ranking of competing nations" at the Birmingham Games, the CGF said on Monday.

However, the medals will be added to the final tally one week after the conclusion of the 2022 Birmingham Games.

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced the decision after its Executive Board meeting here from February 21 to 23.

The decision can be considered a big win for India after it threatened to boycott the 2022 Birmingham Games for dropping shooting, an optional sport, from the roster. Archery is also another optional sport.

"A Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships is set to take place in India in 2022 after a proposal to stage the event was approved by the CGF Executive Board," the CGF said in a release.

The two events will be held in Chandigarh in January 2022 while the Birmingham Commonwealth Games is scheduled from July 27 to August 7, 2022.

"The decision confirmed that Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022 will be two separately organised and funded Commonwealth Sport events.

"One week following the Closing Ceremony of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the CGF shall issue a medal table that includes results from the Chandigarh 2022 Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships, as a further and final legitimate ranking of competing nations and territories from the respective competitions," the CGF added.

In July 2019, the IOA had proposed to boycott the 2022 Birmingham CWG for dropping shooting from the roster.

But, following a visit by CGF President Louise Martin and CEO David Grevemberg in November last, the IOA withdrew its warning during the Annual General Body Meeting in December.

The IOA, while withdrawing the boycott call, proposed to host Commonwealth Championships in shooting, as well as in archery, in 2022 with the condition that the medals awarded in these two events should be recognised in the final tally of the participating countries for the 2022 CWG.

The government quickly gave the approval for these two championships. While the cost for the shooting championship is to be met largely by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the archery event would be funded solely by the Government of India.

India also received wholehearted support from International Shooting Sports Federation and World Archery, the global governing bodies of the two sports.

CGF President Martin said: "I am delighted that we have approved India's ambitious proposal to host a Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships in Chandigarh during 2022.

"Commonwealth archery and shooting athletes now have an unprecedented opportunity to compete in an elite event that will showcase the very best of Commonwealth Sport and add value to the Commonwealth Sports Movement."

She thanked "the CGI (Commonwealth Games India or IOA), the NRAI, the Government of India and the entire sporting community of India "on the significant efforts they have taken to submit an innovative proposal with the ambition of strengthening Commonwealth Sport".

Batra, on his part, said: "We are very pleased that our proposal was considered by the Federation (CGF) and look forward to continuing to engage with all stakeholders to ensure that the Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships is a resounding success for the Commonwealth Sports Movement.

"Our proposal provides more opportunities for Commonwealth athletes to compete on the world stage, and we look forward to welcoming the Commonwealth's best shooters and archers to Chandigarh in 2022. Team India looks forward to competing at Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022."

Though an optional sport, shooting has featured in every Commonwealth Games since 1966 with the exception of Edinburgh 1970. Archery is also an optional sport and it has featured in only two earlier editions -- 1982 Brisbane and 2010 Delhi.