This decision - taken by Commonwealth Games India (CGI) Executive Board with the support of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) - brings to an end a saga which at one point saw India threaten to boycott next year's Commonwealth Games.

When shooting - traditionally one of India's best sports - was left off the programme for Birmingham 2022, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was dissatisfied and at one stage mooted a boycott.

However, the IOA - which acts as India's Commonwealth Games Association - withdrew the boycott threat and instead proposed that Chandigarh host Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships in 2022.

The International Shooting Sport Federation, World Archery and Indian Government were all in favour, and the CGF approved the event in February 2020.

It was due to take place in January next year - six months before Birmingham 2022 opens - but an aggregate medals table was planned to be published one week after Birmingham 2022.

However, the pandemic has made staging the archery and shooting contest in India infeasible.

"We are disappointed that the 2022 Commonwealth Archery and Shooting Championships will no longer take place however, this is the right decision to take in the current climate," CGF President Dame Louise Martin said.

"Despite this news, there are numerous key learnings that will benefit our ongoing work as we look to innovate and create new Commonwealth Sport Properties. 

"The Chandigarh 2022 concept has identified exciting opportunities regarding future co-hosting possibilities that we must further explore.

"We very much are looking forward to welcoming Team India to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games."

India is in the grips of one of the world's worst COVID-19 outbreaks.

The country's official death toll has surpassed 400,000, although there are fears that the true number is considerably higher.

While the number new cases is falling, the seven-day daily average is still more than 45,000.

Earlier this week, confirmation came that the men's T20 World Cup - due to be played in September and October - has been moved from India on health grounds, with Oman and the United Arab Emirates now hosting the major cricket tournament instead.