Confusion returns to haunt boxers at the games

The fight for supremacy between the two Haryana Olympic Federations has now reached the sportspersons. HT reports.

The fight for supremacy between the two Haryana Olympic Federations has now reached the sportspersons.

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Five of Haryana's elite boxers - Vijender Singh, Jai Bhagwan, Akhil Kumar, Dinesh and Jatinder - reported for the Games in Jamshedpur on Thursday, after receiving orders from the Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) head PV Rathee who is also Haryana's DGP (CID). While Abhay Chautala, who is the head of one of the State Olympic Associations, said he has no problem if the boxers want to participate, the pugilists who had already announced that they would skip the Games to nurse their injuries, are now torn between the two factions.

"We had already stated that we will not take part in the Games as many of us are still nursing injuries and also have a very tight international calendar to adhere to. We would like to be fit for Olympics qualifiers and also for other events," one of the boxers, said.

Meanwhile, convener of the Games technical conduct committee for events in Jamshedpur - Capt Amitabh - confirmed that two teams had arrived from Haryana.

Another source told HT that the boxers had left Jamshedpur after refusing to participate. "As per the decision taken at the meeting we asked them to take part in the trials for participating in the Games. The boxers refused and returned back," he said.