I am pained to read this news in today's Times of India.
Though I put it in the Sports Forum too but am not sure how many people really go there to read. So thought of putting it here too.
http://sports.indiatimes.com/Fund_crunch_dents_boxers_hopes/articleshow/3074689.cms
:boxing
NEW DELHI, May 26: India's Olympic medal hope, boxer Vijender Singh is fighting a different kind of battle outside the ring. One that is threatening to hamper his preparations for the Beijing Games.
At a time when hundreds of crores are being spent on getting infrastructure in place for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Doha Asiad silver medallist is spending from his own pocket to get ready for Beijing which is just a few months away.
Vijender, one of the five Indian boxers to have made it to the mega event, is currently with the Indian squad in Chinese Taipei where boxers who have qualified for the Olympics are taking part in the Presidency Cup.
"I am really finding it difficult to meet my requirements in my preparation for the Olympics. And money is certainly the biggest problem I am facing at the moment," Vijender told ToI. "Given the current situation, I am spending from my pocket to meet most of my training and dietary needs."
The Arjuna award winner said his training and diet involve a lot of expenses and in the absence of a sponsor he is finding it hard to meet them. As an example he said he had to spend Rs 17,000 alone for 1 kg of vitamin supplements. "I also need a lot of equipment to keep myself mentally and physically fit for the Olympics."
The boxer from Bhiwani, who's is currently working for the Railways, received an aid of Rs 5,000 from the boxing federation recently, which helped him to some extent. He is also spending the money he has received from the government as reward for winning medals in different competitions.
Vijender said he was getting support from the Mittal Champions Trust (MCT) earlier but they have discontinued the association. MCT officials could not be reached for comment.
The 22-year-old also said he was not too sure whether other sponsors would come forward to help him in his hour of crisis. "Honestly speaking I don't know what to do to get a sponsor. I don't know anybody in the corporate world," he said.
Though I put it in the Sports Forum too but am not sure how many people really go there to read. So thought of putting it here too.
http://sports.indiatimes.com/Fund_crunch_dents_boxers_hopes/articleshow/3074689.cms
:boxing
NEW DELHI, May 26: India's Olympic medal hope, boxer Vijender Singh is fighting a different kind of battle outside the ring. One that is threatening to hamper his preparations for the Beijing Games.
At a time when hundreds of crores are being spent on getting infrastructure in place for the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games, the Doha Asiad silver medallist is spending from his own pocket to get ready for Beijing which is just a few months away.
Vijender, one of the five Indian boxers to have made it to the mega event, is currently with the Indian squad in Chinese Taipei where boxers who have qualified for the Olympics are taking part in the Presidency Cup.
"I am really finding it difficult to meet my requirements in my preparation for the Olympics. And money is certainly the biggest problem I am facing at the moment," Vijender told ToI. "Given the current situation, I am spending from my pocket to meet most of my training and dietary needs."
The Arjuna award winner said his training and diet involve a lot of expenses and in the absence of a sponsor he is finding it hard to meet them. As an example he said he had to spend Rs 17,000 alone for 1 kg of vitamin supplements. "I also need a lot of equipment to keep myself mentally and physically fit for the Olympics."
The boxer from Bhiwani, who's is currently working for the Railways, received an aid of Rs 5,000 from the boxing federation recently, which helped him to some extent. He is also spending the money he has received from the government as reward for winning medals in different competitions.
Vijender said he was getting support from the Mittal Champions Trust (MCT) earlier but they have discontinued the association. MCT officials could not be reached for comment.
The 22-year-old also said he was not too sure whether other sponsors would come forward to help him in his hour of crisis. "Honestly speaking I don't know what to do to get a sponsor. I don't know anybody in the corporate world," he said.
!!