BCCI official Shukla raises boxer Renu issue in Parliament

New Delhi: Congress MP and top BCCI official Rajeev Shukla has asked for a probe into the episode of 2006 World Boxing Championships bronze medallist Renu Gora allegedly serving refreshments at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala last week.Making a motion of special mention on a matter of urgent public importance in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, Shukla expressed shock at the "mistreatment given to female boxers by the NIS management" and has asked the authorities to take action so that "no such case ever happens again."

Calling the episode as "a case of gender bias", Shukla said, "The news of Renu Gora serving tea and cleaning dishes for visiting officials and media persons at NIS Patiala is disturbing. "More than a case of gender bias against female boxers, this is a sorry tale of how female sportspersons fail to find any encouragement from authorities. These women have joined NIS for becoming a coach because they cannot make their ends meet through regular and dignified employment," said Shukla, the BCCI Finance and Media Committee chairman, in his motion. "If we as a nation fail to provide a dignified living to even our illustrious female sportspersons, it paints an unfortunate picture of the future of female sportspersons in India," he added. Shukla said the Renu episode was not the isolated case as "another upcoming female boxer was also reported to serve as a maid" last week. Bureau Report