Chandigarh to host Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships 2022
The championships got approved after archery and shooting were not included in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
A Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships is slated to take place in Chandigarh in 2022 after a proposal to organize the event was approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board.
The decision comes after neither sport was approved as an optional addition to the programme of the next Commonwealth Games.
The championship will be held in January 2022 in Chandigarh, the capital of north Indian states Punjab and Haryana.
Even though archery and shooting won’t feature in the Commonwealth Games itself, the championship in Chandigarh adds to an exciting year for Commonwealth Sport, with Birmingham also staging the 2022 Commonwealth Games from 27 July to 7 August.
The decision confirmed that Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022 are two separately organised and funded Commonwealth Sport events.
However, a week following the closing ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the CGF shall release a medal table that includes results from the Chandigarh 2022 Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships as the final legitimate ranking of competing nations and territories from the respective competitions.
Archery and Shooting Championships an innovative model
The CGF Executive Board approved the proposal for the Archery and Shooting Championships at their meeting in London that took place on February 21-23. They emphasized the opportunity for such an innovative model to not just promote but also encourage the development and hosting of sports throughout the Commonwealth.
The proposal from Commonwealth Games India (CGI), which was supported by the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Government of India, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and World Archery, was also considered and discussed with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games partners before the CGF Executive Board decision.
Chandigarh 2022 to encourage closer ties between Indian athletes and Commonwealth
“We are very pleased that our proposal was considered by the Federation 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,” CGI President Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra said.
“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, and discussing further how we promote closer ties with India and its athletes and the wider Commonwealth sport community.”
The CGF Executive Board also saw key updates on the Trinbago 2021 Commonwealth Youth Games and Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The next CGF Board meeting is scheduled to take place in June 2020 in Birmingham.
India's shooting success
India has enjoyed considerable reward in the sport of shooting in recent years, winning 16 medals in the event at the most recent edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2018.
That has also translated into India gaining a record number of participants for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, with at least 15 shooters guaranteed a berth.