New Delhi, August 18: Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) senior vice president & Haryana Handball Association (HHA) president, Mr Ashok Kumar Arora has criticised the government of Haryana for attempting to attain cheap publicity for the achievements of Haryana boxers. In a press statement issued here today, Mr Arora complimented the Haryanvi boxers for bringing good name to the state.
Mr Arora said that Mr Akhil Kumar may have lost today’s boxing bout in Olympic Quarterfinal, but has won the hearts of the people. He said that the people of the country have high hopes from the other two Quarterfinalist boxers. He condemned the state government for neglecting the sports persons and not granting any grants to the concerned sports associations. He said that he is ashamed of chief minister Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda’s conduct in the whole episode, who is now trying to garner cheap publicity.
HOA senior vice president said that Hooda government has not been impartial in treating sports in the state and the sportsperson’s interests were neglected to settle score with HOA office bearers. He said that politics should not be mixed with the sports and governments should desist from interfering in to the sports and their management. He criticized the chief minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda for being bent upon ruining the games in Haryana. He said that chief minister’s attitude has been undignified and chief minister even used police force to obstruct the sports functions of Haryana Olympic Associations.
HHA president Mr Arora said that all the credit for achievement of Haryanvi boxers goes to HOA & Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) president, Mr Abhey Singh Chautala as the Haryana Government had always put all sorts of obstacles and problems for the sports promotion still IBF & HOA worked overnight for manage proper training, preparation and also ensuring participation in various national & international championships. Had the government not put obstructions, then five or more boxers could have brought laurels to the state, he added.
Mr Arora said that the IBF arranged top sporting facilities and foreign exposure despite no support from Haryana Government. He disclosed that Indian boxers undertook trainings at Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia & Thailand, where the players were provided international trainers, Psychologists, Doctors and other related facilities. To provide the international exposure, Indian Boxing players were sent to participate in various international tournaments held at various countries including Russia, Poland, China, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Pakistan, Greece, United Kingdom, Korea, Philippines, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Germany.
Mr. Arora said that Hooda Government has not yet given any annual grant to the HOA since it’s coming to power, which is given to promote the sports. The Haryana Government had not provided any sports grounds, technical officials, sports goods facilities, coaches etc to the sports associations and HOA for the Sirsa State games.
HOA senior vice president said that the state government is still maintaining its anti sports policies as in the just concluded 41st Senior Haryana State Boxing championship held at Wazirpur, Gurgaon from August 15 to August 17, no facilities including government sports ground, medical facilities or security was provided, so the tournament was forced to be organised in a private school ground. He said that not a single coach out of total 18 coaches was provided in the state boxing championships despite repeated requests. State boxing champions and former champions, serving in government departments like police were not allowed to participate.
HHA president said that state sports department also declined the state boxing federation request for coaching camp for 55th National Boxing Championship to be held at Bhatinda from 6 to 12 September. Haryana Boxing federation was intimated the government decision vide letter no. 2008-25703 dated 6 August, he further added.
Mr Arora said that despite all the government apathy, IBF has left no stone unturned and in 2006, World Boxing Championship was organised at New Delhi, where Indian women Boxing team emerged champions.
Mr Abhey Chautala has shown rare and impeccable commitment to the development and promotion of sports in general and Boxing in particular, Mr Arora said. HOA is perhaps the only state Olympic Association of the country, which has announced that it would award the Olympic Gold, Silver & Bronze medal winners with cash prize of Rs 1 Crore, 50 Lak & 25 Lak.