Chandigarh, August 22 : Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) President Abhey Singh Chautala has praised Indian boxers’ effort in the Beijing Olympics. He particularly admired pugilist Vijender Kumar for putting an intelligent and valiant fight in today’s semi-final bout.
Abhey Singh Chautala said Vijender Kumar may have lost in semi-final, but has won the hearts of the people. He said that Vijender fought astutely with a cool mind against a well known Cuban opponent, Emilio Correa Bayeaux, who is a two-time Pan-American champion.Chautala said that Beijing Olympics have been a ‘dream Olympics’ as one gold and two bronze medals have been won by Indian players. He also praised the two other boxers Akhil Kumar and Jitender Kumar, one Haryanvi wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt for entering quarter-finals.
Chautala announced that Rs 25 lakh would be given to r Vijender Kumar by Haryana Olympic Association (HOA) for winning a bronze medal. Gold medallist Abhinav Bindra and other bronze medallist Sushil Kumar would also be honoured at a public function to be organised shortly.
The IBF president said that these Olympic medals have created a conducive sporting atmosphere in the country and more youths would now opt for Olympic sports like boxing, wrestling, shooting, hockey etc. He said that our players have made the whole country proud of their achievements and Indian players would definitely perform better in the next Olympic, Asian and Commonwealth Games.
HOA president Chautala said that he was particularly happy that many players from Haryana has performed exceptionally well in the Games. "Over a period of time the Haryana players have been making a special place for them selves at the national and international level despite the obstructions and anti sports polices of the state government," Abhey Chautala added.
Chautala said that the IBF and HOA provided the best possible assistance, coaching and other facilities to the players. IBF arranged top sporting facilities and foreign exposure despite no support from Haryana Government. He said that Indian boxers were provided trainings in Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Malaysia and Thailand, where the players were trained by international trainers, psychologists and doctors.
Indian boxers were sent to participate in various international tournaments in Russia, Poland, China, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Qatar, Pakistan, Greece, United Kingdom, Korea, Philippines, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Germany.