Indian hockey groups to compete in 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games, says CWG Federation

India has reversed its choice to drag out its hockey groups from subsequent 12 months’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games and can compete within the multi-sport quadrennial occasion “if they qualify”, a Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) official instructed PTI on Saturday.

Hockey India had earlier this 12 months determined to withdraw its groups from the 2022 CWG, citing COVID-19 associated issues and quick turnaround time between Birmingham Games and Hangzhou Asian Games, a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.India’s choice to ship its hockey group to 2022 CWG got here after the intervention of Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra and Sports Minister Anurag Thakur, each of whom assured the nation’s participation in CWG hockey occasions, offered they qualify.The Birmingham CWG is scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8 subsequent 12 months whereas the Asian Games are beginning on September 10.“No team has been offered a place yet but the IOA have said to CGF President they (IOA) will accept if the teams qualify which is highly likely,” the CGF official instructed PTI.“Indian Sports Minister has been involved I understand and he has been influential. The CGF President (Dame Louis Martin) has been in close dialogue with IOA President.”Asked if the event means Indian hockey groups will participate within the Birmingham Games, he mentioned, “Yes, that would be correct, if they (the teams) qualify.”Sports Minister Thakur had earlier criticised Hockey India’s choice to drag out of the occasion with none session together with his ministry.The listing of certified nations for the hockey event on the Birmingham Games has not but been introduced and is about to be made official in February subsequent 12 months.The CGF official additionally mentioned that discussions are on between CGF and IOA on the Queens Baton Relay, which is scheduled to be held in India between January 12 to fifteen subsequent 12 months.“They (CWGF President and IOA chief) have also been discussing the Queens Baton relay which visits India in January,” he mentioned.“it’s is on schedule to happen but very mindful of COVID so keeping a close watch on situation to ensure it can happen safely.“It is the longest that the Baton will be in any country outside Great Britain as India is a key territory for the Commonwealth. So every effort is being made to ensure it happens. It will predominantly be in Delhi,” the official added.The Indian males’s hockey group clinched a historic bronze on the Tokyo Games earlier this 12 months — their first Olympic hockey medal since successful their final of the eight gold in Moscow in 1980.The ladies’s group, however, narrowly missed out a primary Olympic medal by dropping 3-4 to Great Britain within the bronze play-off.