Not having shooting at CWG is unimaginable for India: Narang

Dubai - Narang's own trophy-laden career has seen him win eight Commonwealth Games gold medals

With tension brewing between India and the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games organisers after shooting was dropped from their programme, Gagan Narang, the 2012 Olympic bronze medallist, has admitted that it's a big setback for India's young shooters that aim for CWG glory.
Narang's own trophy-laden career has seen him win eight Commonwealth Games gold medals.
Naturally, the 36-year-old shooter wasn't happy with the CWG decision to drop shooting for the first time since 1970.
"It's definitely a setback because, you know, lot of countries, not just India, but a lot of Commonwealth countries, will get affected. This is a sport that is growing and developing in lot of these countries," Narang told the Khaleej Times in an exclusive interview on Thursday.
"And India have a huge role to play because the sport is developing. And the Commonwealth Games have always been our strength. It is more of a matter of pride for all of our shooters because our shooters have always dominated at the Commonwealth Games."
Such has been the dominance of Indian shooters at the Commonwealth Games that they have won 41 gold medals in the last four editions - 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018.
"So, not having shooting at the Commonwealth Games, it's something unimaginable for India. And obviously, it's going to hamper the prospects of lot of kids who want to do well in these Games," said Narang.
"But that is not in our hands. It's in the hands of able bodies and committees and people who are governing the sport. We all have to accept the situation in a positive way and continue to work hard for better performances. I think as athletes that's our job. Games or no Games, every competition that we go to, we have to perform.
"And shooting is growing as a sport and we have to keep up our efforts of making the sport more popular. Maybe, they will have it back for the next CW Games, or at least we can hope for that."
Now with an enraged India even threatening to boycott the Birmingham Games, Narang refused to be drawn into a debate over such a move.
"As for the boycott talk, I think it's best left for the authorities to take a call on that," he said.
"Whatever they decide, I believe, will be in the best interest of the country. As athletes, we have to keep focus on our performances."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com