Vijender to miss international competitions

PATIALA: If Sports Authority of India (SAI) approves the fourth leave application of Indian star boxer Vijender Singh, whose role is under scanner in multi-crore drug haul busted by Fatehgarh Sahib police, he may miss two forthcoming international boxing competitions.
Currently 30 boxers from across country have been getting training in India camp of boxing going on in NIS Patiala since the start of march.Some sources informed that camp is being organized to train boxers for two international competitions likely to be held in May month in Russia and Cuba.
To select Indian boxing team from these all boxers' authorities have plans to conduct trials of all boxers on April 5-6 in NIS Patiala.
"Vijender has not attended the camp even for day as he has been on leave since the start of March. Without attending such a crucial camp clearing trials by fighting with fully trained boxers is really tough. By applying for more leave he seems to have made his intention clear that he has no interest even in participating in trials," said a coach on anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to media.
The drug case came to fore on March 3 when police seized drugs from a flat in Mohali. The police had seized about 28 kg of heroin, 61 kg of Pseudophedrine and over Rs 1 crore drug money. Till date 15 persons including two Canadian and one UK citizen have been arrested.
Vijender's name surfaced as his car was recovered from outside of same flat, from where police seized heroin. Though Vijender has denied any links with drugs, but his refusal to give hair and blood samples to Punjab police has raised questions.
"Only in-campus boxers can participate in trial. If SAI authorities approve Vijender's leave, we have no problem to allow him to participate in trials. But If SAI rejects his application he may face problems even in participating in trials as he would be marked absent from March 29. We have not received any response from SAI so far," said NIS national camp in-charge Manmeet Singh.
Vijender's leave ended on March 28, but instead of joining the camp on March 29 he sent another leave application of two weeks. But this time NIS authorities have forwarded the application to SAI authorities Delhi.
"I have forwarded the leave application of Vijender to Director General (DG) of SAI. I am waiting for the decision of DG," said Radhika Shriman, Regional director (Teams) of SAI from Delhi.