Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: Things have hardly changed for the State boxers, even after their splendid show in the recently held 35th National Games at Kerala as they were as usual received by the members of their own Association only and none from the sports fraternity including the elitist sports organization, the Jammu and Kashmir State Sports Council.
Sources said that the trio of history creators namely Pardeep Sharma, Dheeraj and Anju Bala, who clinched bronze medals in the Games, saw no one except the office bearers of their Association to welcome them at the Railway Station after returning from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala today.
Sources added that the ace boxers were welcomed by the J&K Boxing Association led by its general secretary Dr Nirmolak Singh.
” The State boxers though had an improved performance in the National Games, yet they are at the receiving end while the athletes of some other sports disciplines, whose performance graphs have declined in these Games are treated with a different yardstick”, said a member of boxing community.
Sources further said that the medal winners in the disciplines of Gymnastics etc were welcomed by the officers and officials of the J&K State Sports Council, who at the same time ignored the ace boxers.
When contacted, Ashutosh Sharma, general secretary, J&K Olympic Association told the EXCELSIOR that all the players from J&K, who participated in this National Games should be given equal treatment. He added that all the players, who brought the laurels to J&K would be felicitated by the Governor NN Vohra.
Ranjit Kalra, Government Observer for 35th National Games said that “It is very unfortunate and sad that none of the officials of the J&K State Sports Council received the boxers on their arrival. He added that the Council Secretariat should have ensured that the medal winners will be given rousing reception.
“The boxers made us proud and deserve all the respect. I will certainly highlight this aspect in my observers report”, he added.
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