IOA cannot take unilateral decision to pull out of 2022 CWG, must consult govt: Rijiju

Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju Tuesday said the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) cannot take a unilateral decision about pulling out of the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games following the omission of shooting from the event's roster.

Last week, the Commonwealth Games Federation left out shooting from the 2022 Birmingham Games in its Executive Board meeting while recommending the inclusion of three new sports.

The decision is a big blow to India which had won as many as 16 shooting medals out of a total haul off 66 in the 2018 Gold Coast CWG and the IOA said it is mulling to withdraw from the 2022 event.

However, Rijiju said his ministry will discuss the issue in details with the shooting federation (NRAI) and IOA before taking a decision.

"I haven't discussed with the shooting federation. Officially I don't know about their position. If you have to boycott, you have to ask the government because these decisions are not to be taken unilaterally, it has to be done through proper consultation," Rijiju told reporters.

"It is a matter of future of our athletes and national prestige, everything is involved. Our IOA must have taken a stand and we will discuss with them."
"There is no doubt as a nation we will feel proud if we can host an Olympics. We are positive and we will discuss with IOA and then we will formulate ... these are big decisions and can't be spoken out in the heat of the moment. Proper planning and through discussion is required."