The Commonwealth Games is a major international sporting event that takes place every four years, bringing together athletes from across the Commonwealth of Nations. The 2022 edition of the Games will be held in Birmingham, England, and will feature a wide range of sports. However, one sport that was originally scheduled to be part of the program has been dropped from the lineup: shooting.
Shooting has been a staple of the Commonwealth Games since 1966, and has been a popular and successful event for many countries in the Commonwealth. However, in recent years there has been controversy around the sport, particularly in India, which has traditionally been a dominant force in Commonwealth shooting competitions. In 2018, the Indian Olympic Association threatened to boycott the 2022 Commonwealth Games if shooting was not included in the program.
Despite these concerns, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) initially included shooting in the 2022 program, but with a reduced number of events. However, in 2019, the CGF announced that shooting would no longer be part of the Games, citing logistical and financial constraints. The decision was met with disappointment and frustration by many in the shooting community, as well as by Indian officials.
Shooting will be replaced in the 2022 Commonwealth Games by women's cricket, which will be making its debut in the event. Cricket is a popular sport in many Commonwealth countries, particularly in South Asia, and its inclusion in the Games is seen as a positive step towards expanding the diversity of the event. Women's cricket has been growing in popularity in recent years, with the 2022 Commonwealth Games set to feature eight teams competing in T20 matches.
While the decision to drop shooting from the 2022 Commonwealth Games has been controversial, the CGF has emphasized that it remains committed to the sport, and that shooting will continue to be part of the Commonwealth Youth Games and the Commonwealth Shooting Championships. The Federation has also expressed hope that shooting will return to the Commonwealth Games program in the future, potentially as part of a multi-sport event that includes shooting and other non-Olympic sports.
