Boxer Lovlina Boroghain who became the second Indian woman to bag a bronze in the Olympics has alleged mental harassment with few days left for the multi-nation event.
In her recently added Twitter post, Lovlina said that her training process is being hampered and she is getting harassed.
"My coaches who helped me get a medal in the Olympics are being removed again and again. This is impacting my training process and the competition," she said.
According to Lovlina, her coach Sandhya Gurungji is still not getting entry to the Commonwealth village and the other coach has been sent back to India.
Gurung is an assistant coach in the national camp and has been working closely with Tokyo Olympics medallist Lovlina.
"My training process stopped exactly eight days before the game. I am not able to understand, how do I focus on my game? Due
such politics, my last World Championships was spoiled and I don't want to spoil the upcoming CWG as well," she added.
"I hope that I bring back a medal for my country by breaking the politics," she expressed.
Lovlina has won bronze in the world championship in the years 2018 and 2019. She also bagged bronze medals in the Asian Championships in 2017 and 2021.
Lovlina's post has made her fans across the country furious. People are expressing disappointment through their social media posts.
The IOA said it is is looking at the concern raised by the boxer.
"The matter of Ms. Gurung's accreditation was a late request received following the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee's Delegation registration meeting with the national delegations. However, given the IOA places the convenience of the Indian athletes at the highest level, a special request has been made to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee on a priority basis to provide Ms.Gurung with the requisite accreditation," IOA acting president Anil Khanna said in a statement.
On the other hand, BFI too issued a statement in it's defence.
The BFI further stated that "requirement of boxing with respect to coaches and support staff is a little different as there are multiple bouts, which could be one after another.
"With IOA's help, the number of support staff went up from 4 to 8 for the entire contingent of 12 boxers."
Reacting to Lovlina's allegations that she has to literally beg for inclusion of her coaches for training camps and exposure tours, the BFI said that it "ensured that Sandhya Gurung was at training camp in Ireland."
(Inputs from PTI)
