IOA Ad-hoc body justifies last-minute postponement of boxing trials

New Delhi: Star pugilist MC Mary Kom might be angry at the last-minute postponement of the trials to pick boxers for Asian Games but the Ad-hoc Committee, which is running the sport, Saturday justified the move, saying that the Commonwealth Games medal winners needed a break after a tough competition.

The IOA-appointed Ad-hoc Committee decided to postpone the trials, which was to begin today, on the request of Glasgow CWG medal winners but Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom termed the decision "unprofessional". Ad-hoc Committee chairman Tarlochan Singh told PTI that the decision to postpone the trials was taken in consultation with Sports Authority of India (SAI). "The CWG medal winners wanted a brief break after a tough competition in Glasgow. They have not even gone to their villages and hometowns. It is a natural desire to go home for a while after the CWG and share the achievement they have got with their family members. We have to give their weightage to their wishes," Tarlochan said. "The decision was taken after consultation with the Sports Authority of India and the coaches were told to communicate to the boxers," he said. Asked specifically about Mary Kom expressing unhappiness over the last-minute change in schedule without informing her, Tarlochan said, "She is a star boxer, an Olympic medallist. We respect her. "But we have to think of other boxers also. We cannot ignore them also," he said, adding that the trials will now be held in the third or fourth week of this month.