India has reversed its resolution to tug out its hockey groups from subsequent yr’s Birmingham Commonwealth Games and can compete within the multi-sport quadrennial occasion “if they qualify”, a Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) official informed PTI on Saturday.
Hockey India had earlier this yr determined to withdraw its groups from the 2022 CWG, citing COVID-19 associated considerations and quick turnaround time between Birmingham Games and Hangzhou Asian Games, a qualifier for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
India’s resolution to ship its hockey workforce 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, supplied they qualify.
The Birmingham CWG is scheduled to be held from July 28 to August 8 subsequent yr 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 informed 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 resolution to tug out of the occasion with none session together with his ministry.
The checklist of certified nations for the hockey match on the Birmingham Games has not but been introduced and is about to be made official in February subsequent yr.
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 yr.
“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 occur however very conscious of COVID so protecting a detailed watch on scenario to make sure it may possibly occur 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 workforce clinched a historic bronze on the Tokyo Games earlier this yr — their first Olympic hockey medal since profitable their final of the eight gold in Moscow in 1980.
The girls’s workforce, however, narrowly missed out a primary Olympic medal by shedding 3-4 to Great Britain within the bronze play-off.