Boycotting 2022 CWG is not the solution, says sports minister
Sports minister Kiren Rijiju revealed that boycotting the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham due to the exclusion of shooting was not a rational move to make. Rijiju added that his long-term goals are focused on the Olympic Games to be held in Paris in 2024 and Los Angeles in 2028.
The move to axe shooting from the 2022 edition of the CWG by the Birmingham Organising Committee, triggered angry reactions from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the national shooting federation (NRAI). The former The even went to the extent of suggesting a boycott to protest the sport's dropping.
However, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju has played down the issue to boycott the 2022 Birmingham CWG as he said that it is too soon to make a decision of such magnitude.
“The officials of IOA met me and apprised me about the ongoing issues in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where shooting has been dropped. The possibility of India’s boycott was also raised before me.
“I told them to speak to the Commonwealth Games Federation officials and the organising committee of the Birmingham Games and apprise them about our deep concerns. If it (the decision) is not reviewed, we will see but the call for a boycott at this point of time is too early. Certainly, the boycott is not the solution but I will not give an opinion till I get the final outcome from the meeting between IOA and CGF officials,” Rijiju said in an interview with PTI reporters.
Rijiju, who was an athlete during his school and college days, further added that his long-term targets involve achieving big things at the Olympic Games to be held in Paris in 2024, followed by the one in Los Angeles in 2028.
“I have just assumed sports ministry (charge) three months back and we are about 10 months away from 2020 Tokyo Olympics, so now we will have to go with the existing talent.
“In 10 months, we cannot produce new talents. We have identified existing talents and we have extended all technical resources and other support whatever is required. We are expecting better results than previous Olympics. But it is difficult to predict the number of medals because of the high standard of competition in the Olympics. My long-term preparation is for 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” the minister added.
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