Amid speculations about shooting's future as a CWG sport, renowned pistol shooter Jaspal Rana today called for the country's boycott of the Commonwealth Games as a mark of protest.
Despite concerns raised by shooters worldwide and national federations, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has made it clear that shooting is only an "optional sport", which will not feature in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
"The government has to fight for that, not us. Because if they keep moving the events in which we are good at, that is not good for the country. Boycott the competition, don't shoot in the Commonwealth Games, China did not shoot in four Olympics and when they came back they made a clean sweep," Rana, one of the finest exponents of pistol shooting in the country, said.
He added, "The government now is doing a lot for the athletes in terms of funding and exposure. It's a very positive development and the sportspersons have benefitted."
In a letter to the 2022 Games organisers last month, CGF CEO David Grevemberg said, "Shooting will not feature at the 2022 CWG and the CGF has awarded the Games supporting these plans."