Boxing coach wants to quit due to lack of incentives

He has just guided the Indian team to a gold and a silver at the World Youth Boxing Championships but instead of celebrating the success, coach G Manoharan is contemplating quitting the job.

Manoharan, who has been India’s junior and youth coach since 2006 and has given fine results during his tenure, says the Sports Authority of India (SAI) is neither offering him job security nor the financial incentives to continue.

“I have been with the team since 2006 but was given a contract by SAI only in 2007. That too is renewed on an yearly basis. So I don’t have a permanent job. I don’t mind that but at least they should hike my pay,” said Manoharan.

“I have the results to show. I have to sustain a family and with a salary of Rs 15,000 and all the travelling that I do, it’s not possible. I have to think of other options,” said the Olympian who has been with the senior team as well.

No doctor ahead of World C’ship finals

It was the most draining tourney of their nascent boxing careers but World Youth Championships gold-medallist Vikas Krishan and silver-medallist Shiva Thapa didn’t have a doctor to take care of their niggles ahead of their summit clashes in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The volcanic ash cloud over Europe that disrupted air traffic for a week meant that the championships started a littlelater than scheduled, thereby sending the participating teams’ travel plans haywire.

Most of the teams had their return tickets booked for May 2, as per the initial schedule, but after the revised schedule made May 3 the day of the finals, the organisers decided that those boxers who didn’t make the semifinals be sent back as per the original plans.