India will participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Monday, reversing earlier plans to boycott the event over the absence of shooting as a medal sport.

"The CGF and the entire Commonwealth Sports Movement are delighted India has confirmed their intent to participate at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games..." CGF president Louise Martin said in a statement.

"Following a useful and constructive CGF visit to India in November, we felt confident and reassured that the athletes and sports community of India places huge value and importance on the Commonwealth Games," she added.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had threatened to boycott the Games after shooting -- which supplied 16 of their 66 medals at last year's Gold Coast Games -- was dropped from the Birmingham programme as it is an optional sport for host cities.

India will participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Monday, reversing earlier plans to boycott the event over the absence of shooting as a medal sport.

India will participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) said on Monday, reversing earlier plans to boycott the event over the absence of shooting as a medal sport. "The CGF and the entire Commonwealth Sports Movement are delighted India has confirmed their intent to participate at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games..." CGF president Louise Martin said in a statement. "Following a useful and constructive CGF visit to India in November, we felt confident and reassured that the athletes and sports community of India places huge value and importance on the Commonwealth Games," she added. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) had threatened to boycott the Games after shooting -- which supplied 16 of their 66 medals at last year's Gold Coast Games -- was dropped from the Birmingham programme as it is an optional sport for host cities.

In boycott reversal, India to participate in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham: CGF

Cricket is set to return to the Commonwealth Games after a 24-year absence with organisers confirming on Tuesday that the programme for Birmingham 2022 would include a women's Twenty20 tournament.

The T20 event is one of three new events added to the next edition of the Games, alongside Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis, but there was no room on the schedule for shooting.

Eight teams will take part in the game's shortest format, which will be held at Edgbaston, boosting the total number of medal events for women at Birmingham 2022 to 135 - two more than men in a first for a major multi-sport event.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement the sport's return to the Games was "a truly historic moment for women's cricket and for the global cricket community".

"Cricket's inclusion in an event with such a large global reach aligns perfectly with our plan to enable more women and girls to be inspired to get involved in cricket," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Tom Harrison said.

Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin welcomed the addition of all three sports to the 2022 programme.

"We are passionate advocates of women's sport and para-sport so I am thrilled we are able to make this special announcement today," she said.

The additions were also welcomed by Britain's sports minister Nigel Adams.

"It is the first time any major multi-sport competition has more medal events for women than men, and builds on the incredible growth of women's sport," Adams said.

"These additions are also a fantastic opportunity to increase the profile of para sport, and to showcase the city of Birmingham to a global audience."

Cricket's last appearance at the Games was at Kuala Lumpur in 1998, when a South African team featuring Jacques Kallis won the men's 50-over competition.

The next edition of the women's Cricket World Cup will be held in New Zealand in 2021 and the country's captain Amy Satterthwaite described the inclusion of the sport in the Birmingham programme as "a huge boost".

"Having the opportunity to play against countries we currently don't usually compete with will be unique and only a good thing for the growth of the game," Satterthwaite said.

The 2022 Games will take place from July 27 to Aug. 7 and involve 4,500 athletes competing across 19 sports.

Cricket is set to return to the Commonwealth Games after a 24-year absence with organisers confirming on Tuesday that the programme for Birmingham 2022 would include a women's Twenty20 tournament.

Cricket is set to return to the Commonwealth Games after a 24-year absence with organisers confirming on Tuesday that the programme for Birmingham 2022 would include a women's Twenty20 tournament. The T20 event is one of three new events added to the next edition of the Games, alongside Beach Volleyball and Para Table Tennis, but there was no room on the schedule for shooting. Eight teams will take part in the game's shortest format, which will be held at Edgbaston, boosting the total number of medal events for women at Birmingham 2022 to 135 - two more than men in a first for a major multi-sport event. The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a statement the sport's return to the Games was "a truly historic moment for women's cricket and for the global cricket community". "Cricket's inclusion in an event with such a large global reach aligns perfectly with our plan to enable more women and girls to be inspired to get involved in cricket," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive Tom Harrison said. Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin welcomed the addition of all three sports to the 2022 programme. "We are passionate advocates of women's sport and para-sport so I am thrilled we are able to make this special announcement today," she said. The additions were also welcomed by Britain's sports minister Nigel Adams. "It is the first time any major multi-sport competition has more medal events for women than men, and builds on the incredible growth of women's sport," Adams said. "These additions are also a fantastic opportunity to increase the profile of para sport, and to showcase the city of Birmingham to a global audience." Cricket's last appearance at the Games was at Kuala Lumpur in 1998, when a South African team featuring Jacques Kallis won the men's 50-over competition. The next edition of the women's Cricket World Cup will be held in New Zealand in 2021 and the country's captain Amy Satterthwaite described the inclusion of the sport in the Birmingham programme as "a huge boost". "Having the opportunity to play against countries we currently don't usually compete with will be unique and only a good thing for the growth of the game," Satterthwaite said. The 2022 Games will take place from July 27 to Aug. 7 and involve 4,500 athletes competing across 19 sports.

Women's T20 cricket added to 2022 Commonwealth Games

Indian shooter Heena Sidhu on Sunday said that boycott is a strong word to use but if we do not stand for shooting today, it could happen to any other sports as well.

Her remarks came after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra wrote to Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-firms-up-commonwealth-games-boycott-threats-over-shooting-exclusion-239030">urging him to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games</a> (CWG) in the UK due to the exclusion of shooting.

"I know boycott is a very strong word to use because for one sport we can not let others suffer. But at the same time, if we do not stand for shooting now, it could happen to some other sport," Sidhu told ANI.

"Last year when we came to know about shooting not there in CWG and our federation president was upset with it. He tried a lot to get shooting back in CWG," Sidhu added.

National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Secretary Rajeev Bhatia and General Secretary DV Seetharama Rao on Sunday said the NRAI has faith in Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and will back whatever decision the IOA takes.

"I know he had tried a lot to get shooting back in CWG and at that time we were so angry and everybody was saying including the president he also said that I hope and urged the Indian government and the IOA to stand behind the shooting and if needed boycott the games," Sindhu said.

So at that time everybody had the same emotion because it was new news and unexpected, we have won so many medals and to come to know of like this," she added.

The 29-year-old Sidhu won the two medal in the 21st Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, last year.

She first clinched silver in the women's 10m Air Pistol category before adding it with a gold in women's 25m air pistol event.

According to Sidhu, if shooting will be excluded from CWG it will affect the Indian ranking in the competition.

"It is not just about shooting it is about India's ranking in CWG. Our rank will be low if shooting will be removed and we are not worthy of that rank as we deserve more," Sidhu said.

In 2010 CWG, India had finished second in overall medals tally and total medals won in the shooting only were 30. In 2018, India had finished third with 16 medals in shooting.

"India is the country which always takes the biggest contingent for shooting in CWG. Even other countries are also suffering because of this and they want India to fight for it. India has the muscle for the shooting," Sidhu said.

She opined that England wants games which their people want to see on TV and for that they are backing women's cricket in CWG.

"At the same time England is bringing cricket in CWG and that too women's cricket and I do not know why did they not bring men's cricket. So, I personally feel that England is trying to bring games in CWG which their people like to watch on television. They do not want to spend money from where they do not get a return and you can not think like this in sports," Sidhu said.

"I would love it if people come to support us from other sports as well and we will be very thankful to them. It is also about sportsmanship as we all are from same fraternity," she concluded.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 7 in 2022.&nbsp;

Indian shooter Heena Sidhu on Sunday said that boycott is a strong word to use but if we do not stand for shooting today, it could happen to any other sports as well.

Indian shooter Heena Sidhu on Sunday said that boycott is a strong word to use but if we do not stand for shooting today, it could happen to any other sports as well. Her remarks came after Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra wrote to Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju, urging him to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games (CWG) in the UK due to the exclusion of shooting. "I know boycott is a very strong word to use because for one sport we can not let others suffer. But at the same time, if we do not stand for shooting now, it could happen to some other sport," Sidhu told ANI. "Last year when we came to know about shooting not there in CWG and our federation president was upset with it. He tried a lot to get shooting back in CWG," Sidhu added. National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) Secretary Rajeev Bhatia and General Secretary DV Seetharama Rao on Sunday said the NRAI has faith in Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and will back whatever decision the IOA takes. "I know he had tried a lot to get shooting back in CWG and at that time we were so angry and everybody was saying including the president he also said that I hope and urged the Indian government and the IOA to stand behind the shooting and if needed boycott the games," Sindhu said. So at that time everybody had the same emotion because it was new news and unexpected, we have won so many medals and to come to know of like this," she added. The 29-year-old Sidhu won the two medal in the 21st Commonwealth Games at Gold Coast, last year. She first clinched silver in the women's 10m Air Pistol category before adding it with a gold in women's 25m air pistol event. According to Sidhu, if shooting will be excluded from CWG it will affect the Indian ranking in the competition. "It is not just about shooting it is about India's ranking in CWG. Our rank will be low if shooting will be removed and we are not worthy of that rank as we deserve more," Sidhu said. In 2010 CWG, India had finished second in overall medals tally and total medals won in the shooting only were 30. In 2018, India had finished third with 16 medals in shooting. "India is the country which always takes the biggest contingent for shooting in CWG. Even other countries are also suffering because of this and they want India to fight for it. India has the muscle for the shooting," Sidhu said. She opined that England wants games which their people want to see on TV and for that they are backing women's cricket in CWG. "At the same time England is bringing cricket in CWG and that too women's cricket and I do not know why did they not bring men's cricket. So, I personally feel that England is trying to bring games in CWG which their people like to watch on television. They do not want to spend money from where they do not get a return and you can not think like this in sports," Sidhu said. "I would love it if people come to support us from other sports as well and we will be very thankful to them. It is also about sportsmanship as we all are from same fraternity," she concluded. Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games is scheduled to take place from July 27 to August 7 in 2022.

Boycott is strong word to use, says Heena Sidhu on 2022 CWG boycott plan

India's threat to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham over shooting's absence in the programme has intensified after the country's Olympic association sought approval from the sports ministry for such a move.

Media reports have cited a lack of suitable facilities as the reason behind Birmingham's decision to axe shooting which has featured at every Games since 1966, with the exception of Edinburgh in 1970.

After the decision was announced last year, the country's shooting federation suggested boycotting the Games which would not feature what has been a high-yielding discipline for India.

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra has written a letter to sports minister Kiren Rijiju seeking a meeting to explain the "proposed boycott".

"We want to express our protest by not taking part in 2022 CWG Games..." Batra wrote in his letter to the minister seen by Reuters.

"We have been noticing over a period of time that wherever India seems to be getting grip on the game and performing well... either the goal posts are shifted or rules are changed."

"We feel it is time for us in IOA/India to start asking tough questions and start taking tough positions," added Batra, also the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH).

Indian shooters accounted for 16 of their 66 medals, including seven golds, at last year's Gold Coast Games where they finished third in the medals table.

In shooting's absence, India would slip to anywhere between fifth to eighth place in 2022, Batra wrote.

IOA have decided to boycott the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in Rwanda, also withdrawing candidatures of two of its officials from the September elections there.

CGF officials were not immediately available for comment.

India's threat to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham over shooting's absence in the programme has intensified after the country's Olympic association sought approval from the sports ministry for such a move.

India's threat to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham over shooting's absence in the programme has intensified after the country's Olympic association sought approval from the sports ministry for such a move. Media reports have cited a lack of suitable facilities as the reason behind Birmingham's decision to axe shooting which has featured at every Games since 1966, with the exception of Edinburgh in 1970. After the decision was announced last year, the country's shooting federation suggested boycotting the Games which would not feature what has been a high-yielding discipline for India. Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra has written a letter to sports minister Kiren Rijiju seeking a meeting to explain the "proposed boycott". "We want to express our protest by not taking part in 2022 CWG Games..." Batra wrote in his letter to the minister seen by Reuters. "We have been noticing over a period of time that wherever India seems to be getting grip on the game and performing well... either the goal posts are shifted or rules are changed." "We feel it is time for us in IOA/India to start asking tough questions and start taking tough positions," added Batra, also the president of the International Hockey Federation (FIH). Indian shooters accounted for 16 of their 66 medals, including seven golds, at last year's Gold Coast Games where they finished third in the medals table. In shooting's absence, India would slip to anywhere between fifth to eighth place in 2022, Batra wrote. IOA have decided to boycott the General Assembly of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) in Rwanda, also withdrawing candidatures of two of its officials from the September elections there. CGF officials were not immediately available for comment.

India firms up Commonwealth Games boycott threats over shooting exclusion