IOA withdraw CGF assembly nominations to protest exclusion of shooting from 2022 CWG
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) have withdrawn their CGF assembly nominations as an act of protest for the exclusion of shooting from 2022 Commonwealth Games. The IOA also has also withdrawn the nomination of its secretary-general Rajeev Mehta for the election of a regional vice-president
On Friday, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) revealed its decision to pull out of the Commonwealth Games Federation’s General Assembly in September as a sign of protest against the decision to drop shooting from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games roster.
According to an official letter addressed to CGF Chief Executive Officer David Grevemberg, the IOA also withdrew the nomination of its secretary-general Rajeev Mehta for the election of a regional vice-president along with that of Namdev Shiragaonkar for Sports Committee member.
“The leadership of CGA India has taken the decision (of) withdrawal of participation in the CGF General Assembly to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in September. The nomination of candidates of CGA India for election during the General Assembly is withdrawn, namely Mr. Rajeev Mehta for Regional Vice-President (Asia) and Mr. Namdev Shiragaonkar for member of Sports Committee.
“The only edition of CWG in Asia in the last two decades was hosted in India. However, we are compelled to reflect on our standing within the Commonwealth movement in recent times. There has been much ire and disapproval by our stakeholders on the exclusion of shooting in the sports programme of 2022 CWG,” the IOA said in the letter.
On Thursday, the latest IOA letter still claimed that India could back out of the 2022 Birmingham Games due to the exclusion of shooting.
“The Executive Council and General Body of the IOA ... would also be discussing about participation in Birmingham 2022 Game,” the IOA said in the letter.