This is for the first time in the Games history that CGF has agreed to conduct a couple of disciplines in different country besides the main Organising country.

The 2022 Games are slated to be in Birmingham and its Organising committee had excluded archery and shooting from the competition. The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) protested the exclusion of these two disciplines saying that Indian archers and shooters will suffer.

It also threatened to boycott the Games and the CGF realizing that it will b e difficult to conduct the competitions in the absence of India hammered out this formula.

In fact it was IOA which offered to host these two events and CGF after long drawn discussions and talks accepted this "face saving" formula.

According to an official CGF release " Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships is set to take place in India in 2022 after a proposal to stage the event was approved by the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Executive Board ".

The event will be held in Chandigarh and is scheduled to be staged in January 2022.

The decision confirmed that Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022 will be two separately organised and funded Commonwealth Sport events.

It adds to a hugely exciting year for Commonwealth Sport, with Birmingham set to stage the 2022 Commonwealth Games from 27 July – 7 August 2022.

One week following the Closing Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the CGF shall issue a medal table that includes results from the Chandigarh 2022 Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships, as a further and final legitimate ranking of competing nations and territories from the respective competitions. release added.

The CGF Executive Board approved the proposal at their meeting in London which took place on February 21-23; and highlighted the opportunity for this innovative model to promote and encourage the development and hosting of sport 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 prior to the CGF Executive Board decision.

CGI Presidentr Narinder Batra said: “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.

“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,he said.

“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.”

CGF President Dame Louise Martin said: “I am delighted that we have approved India’s ambitious proposal to host a Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships in Chandigarh during 2022.

“Commonwealth archery and shooting athletes now have an unprecedented opportunity to compete in an elite event that will showcase the very best of Commonwealth Sport and add value to the Commonwealth Sports Movement.

“The CGF would like to thank the CGI, the NRAI, the Government of India and the entire sporting community of India on the significant efforts they have taken to submit an innovative proposal with the ambition of strengthening Commonwealth Sport.

“I would like to give particular thanks to CGI President Narinder Batra, Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju and NRAI President Raninder Singh for their leadership across this proposal.”

Hailing the CGF's decision, National Rifle Association of India (NRAI ) President Raninder Singh called it a path-breaking and innovative approach that the CGF is piloting in partnership with CGI, the NRAI and the Archery Federation of India; which meets the requirements of all stakeholders, especially those of our Commonwealth Shooting and Archery athletes. I laud the leadership of Dame Louis Martin, President, CGF, and its CEO, the hardworking David Grevemberg, who have shown such an openness and engulfing leadership in accepting such a proposal, that is admittedly against their grain. Indian and Commonwealth Shooting
and Archery applaud you.