Chandigarh in India will host a Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships, which will count to the overall Birmingham 2022 medals table later in the year, it was officially announced today.
The plan was formally submitted to the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) last month and has received approval at the organisation's Executive Board meeting in London.
Chandigarh, the capital of the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, has been approved as host of the Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships.
The event is due to be held in January 2022.
The CGF claim the event will be organised and funded separately from Birmingham 2022.
Birmingham is then scheduled to host the Commonwealth Games from July 27 to August 7.
A full medals table will be issued one week after the Closing Ceremony, which will include medals won at the archery and shooting competitions in Chandigarh.
The proposal was made by Commonwealth Games India (CGI), a part of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and received support from the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI), the Government of India, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and World Archery.
The CGF claimed the proposal was also considered and discussed with Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games partners prior to the CGF Executive Board decision.
"I am delighted that we have approved India’s ambitious proposal to host a Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships in Chandigarh during 2022," CGF President Louise Martin said.
"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 Dr Narinder Dhruv Batra, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sport Kiren Rijiju and NRAI President Raninder Singh for their leadership across this proposal."
Neither archery or shooting made the official programme for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
India had then threatened to boycott in protest at shooting's absence.
India has traditionally been strong in shooting, winning 16 medals, including seven golds, at Gold Coast 2018.
The boycott threat was later dropped by the IOA, following a meeting between CGF leadership and Batra in New Delhi during November.
Batra said the Indian team are now looking forward to competing at both Chandigarh 2022 and Birmingham 2022.
"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."
Shooting, while not a compulsory Commonwealth Games sport, has been part of every event since Kingston 1966, with the exception of Edinburgh 1970.
Archery is also an optional sport and last featured at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi in 2010, having only appeared previously at Brisbane 1982.
ISSF have welcomed the inclusion of shooting and said it hoped no "special efforts" would be required to feature at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
"We congratulate participating countries with a long-awaited decision of the CGF Executive Board regarding inclusion of the shooting sport into the 2022 Games programme," an ISSF statement read.
"Due to refusal of the Birmingham Committee to conduct shooting competitions the NRAI took over this function with the support of the ISSF keeping the quotas and medals for athletes.
"We hope that no special efforts will be required for the 2026 Commonwealth Games."
World Archery have also welcomed confirmation of the competition in Chandigarh.
"This is a fantastic development for archery and a great opportunity for elite athletes in India and from the across the Commonwealth," Tom Dielen, the World Archery secretary general, said.
"World Archery would like to thank the CGF and CGI for their modern and innovative approach.
"We look forward to working together in delivering both the world-class event the athletes deserve and leveraging the excitement around these championships in Chandigarh and the Games in Birmingham in 2022."
More follows.