Names missing from official list, boxers panic in World C'ship

Panic struck the Indian camp at the World Boxing Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan just hours ahead of the official weigh-in and draw on Sunday, as two of its team members found their names missing from the list of registered entries but the confusion was sorted out just in time.

Asian Games silver medallist Manpreet Singh (91kg) and Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Paramjeet Samota (+91kg) checked in for the official weigh-in of the mega event, on Sunday, but were told that their names were not there in the registered list.

The stunned boxers and national coach Gurbax Singh Sandhu expectedly panicked as the draw was just hours away. A harried Sandhu called up Indian Boxing Federation Secretary General, Brig P K Muralidharan Raja, who is also the team manager but is yet to land in Baku as he is still awaiting departmental clearance to proceed.

Raja immediately forwarded the requisite documents proving Manpreet and Samota's name in the registered list of entries to the organisers who relented just in time before the weigh-in started.

"It was a confusing situation which created a lot of panic in the team. Just hours before the weigh-in and draw, they found their names missing which was shocking. These entry lists are prepared well in advance and India had sent their names in time," Raja said.

"What if I had not been able to furnish the required documents in time? These boys wouldn't have been allowed in the weigh-in which would have been a disaster for them after all the hard work they have put in. These kind of distractions affect the team," Raja added.

Raja is expected to leave only tomorrow when the Championship gets underway where India has sent a full 10-member team spearheaded by Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh (75kg).

Vijender had bagged a bronze at the previous World Championships in Milan which was a first for Indian boxing.