Boxer Akhil lashes out at chief coach, management

PATIALA - Boxer Akhil Kumar, a medal hope in the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games, is frustrated with the apathetic attitude of the management towards its players and warns it can affect their performance in the mega event.

“I am very disappointed with the indifferent attitude of our management. A few days back, I was down with viral fever and I brought it to the notice of our chief coach. But he advised me to take medicines from a private doctor,” Akhil told IANS.

“I also had a rash on my thigh, but again the coach told me to consult a doctor on my own. Finally, I had to go to a private skin specialist and took medicines for fever from a chemist, but the team’s authorised doctor did not ask me even once about these problems.”

Akhil, 29, won a gold medal in the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and is currently practicing hard at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) here.

“They are giving Rs.50,000 to Rs.60,000 per month to team doctor Karan who is least bothered about our health and does not discuss anything with us. Our chief coach knows everything about this but he neither asked the team’s doctor and nor did he apprise the federation officials about this,” Akhil said.

“This is happening not only with me but also with other players, who are forced to go to private doctors for treatment. It can bring embarrassment for the whole country during dope tests.”

In the past also Akhil, a native of Rohtak town in Haryana, had knee and wrist injuries and got no help from the team doctor.

“During that time also, I had to go for private doctors and team’s doctors were of no use. I know that giving such statements can backfire but now it’s becoming difficult to tolerate. It’s very frustrating, how can we compete at an international level in such circumstances?”

Boxing chief coach G.S. Sandhu said he will speak to Akhil on the matter.

“There are many things that are not under our control but we have to manage with them. I will again talk to Akhil regarding this matter,” a visibly disturbed Sandhu told IANS.

“I think that there is some misunderstanding and I would do my level best to solve this problem,” he said.

Akhil, however, is happy with his preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

“I am practicing hard and I am expecting good results. I am focusing more on my speed, taking a protein-rich diet and maintaining my weight. I have put in a lot of hard-work, all I need now is a bit of luck.”

After the gruelling training session, Akhil says he spends time watching footage of his previous bouts to identify the shortcomings, listening to music, watching movies and sleeping a lot to keep himself relaxed and concentrated.

“If we talk about medals in CWG, then we want only gold. We can easily win at least three gold medals in boxing,” he said.