Boxer’s plight evokes no response from SAI

A day after Hindustan Times broke the story of champion boxer Renu Gora being made to serve tea and refreshments to all and sundry at the NIS, Patiala, Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials went into a shell.

A day after Hindustan Times broke the story of champion boxer Renu Gora being made to serve tea and refreshments to all and sundry at the NIS, Patiala, Sports Authority of India (SAI) officials went into a shell.

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Rajesh Kailey, in-charge, academic affairs, at India's premier sports institute washed his hands off the incident saying he was away on another assignment. VK Soni, another official, did not take calls despite repeated attempts. Officiating executive director at NIS, Rajesh Chhabra, holding charge in the absence of LS Ranawat, who is on leave, too was not available for comment.

An NIS official said on condition of anonymity that the matter had been blown out of proportion. "During camps, there is an informal atmosphere and the players, irrespective of their gender, chip in to perform daily chores," he said.

HT had highlighted the plight of Renu, bronze-medallist at the 2006 World Championship and currently studying at the institute to become a coach, being made to serve tea and wash utensils.

She was promised a job in the Railways but when the job didn't materialise, she took up a one-year coaching course at the Patiala institute.