Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra has suggested that India completely withdraw from the Commonwealth Games, instead of boycotting a one-off edition as the lack of competitiveness at the quadrennial event make it a waste of time.
Shooting’s exclusion from the 2022 Birmingham CWG had triggered angry reactions from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the national shooting federation (NRAI). Batra said that instead of the CWG – where India win a big number of medals – the athletes compete in ‘better competitions’.
“These Games have no standard. For me, these are a waste of time and money. We win 70 medals, 100 medals at the Commonwealth Games while at the Olympics, we get stuck at two (medals).”Narinder Batra to The Indian Express
“That means the level of competition isn’t high at CWG. It’s not a ranking tournament either. So why waste time? We should rather go to better competitions and prepare for the Olympics,” he added.
India’s shooters claimed 16 medals, including seven gold at last year's Gold Coast Games. The country had finished third in the medals table with a tally of 66.
Batra said he was against boycotting a single edition of the Commonwealth Games, and that India should either compete in 2022 or withdraw from the event permanently.
“I’m not in favour of the boycott. In sports, you never use the word boycott. My fundamental principle is either we withdraw permanently or go and compete,” he said.
Batra said the IOA would have an ‘internal discussion’ at their executive board meeting, and if approved, take the conversation forward to the government and then the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
“The entire Middle East does not compete in CWG. The USA doesn’t either. Ultimately, IOA will vote for it. As a sports administrator, it is my duty to make sure India has a strong team for the 2024, 2028, 2032 Olympics. We won’t achieve that by competing at the CWG,” he said.
In July this year, the IOA had proposed to boycott the 2022 CWG in protest against the dropping of shooting from its roster and requested the sports ministry for its views. Several athletes including Olympic gold medal winning shooter Abhinav Bindra had then spoken out against the boycott. And Batra says he won’t be surprised if his suggestion doesn’t find favour.
He said, “Athletes may hate me for it because they get prize money for these Games. I will request the government to divide this prize money in different tournaments of better level. If it is not a good competition then why should we go?”
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