Reports : Indian boxers without medical personnel in Iran’s Makran Cup

The 10-member Indian boxing contingent, which includes the likes of Commonwealth and Asiad medalists Satish Kumar and Manish Kaushik and India Open gold winner Sanjeet, is without a doctor, reported TOI. The report also stated that the management’s backup plan has been to seek the help of medical personnel from participating nations. 

Following this, a separate 12-member senior team, which has 10 male and two female boxers, would also be travelling without medical personnel to the 38th Gee Bee International boxing tournament to be held in Helsinki, Finland from March 7-10. The tournament would have former Asian champion and world bronze-medalist Shiva Thapa, youth world champion Sachin Siwach, and Asian silver-medalist Sumit Sangwan participating in it.

The report conveyed that it was because of the Boxing Federation of India’s decision to preferring other staff, including a video analyst, over a doctor. However, BFI executive director Raj Kumar Sacheti admitted that a doctor would have been mandatory.

"We should send them, but it's not mandatory that in all tournaments, a doctor accompanies the team. We have to see which support staff personnel is more important for a particular tournament. Organisers also limit entry. Like, (if) we are sending a team of 10 boxers, then we can only send three-five coaches, one doctor/ physio and one masseur," said Sacheti, reported TOI.

"So, we decided to send a physio to Iran and the video analyst we have sent an extra official on our own cost. But it's our desire that we should send a doctor full-time."