OLYMPIC MEDALIST BOXER Lovlina Borgohain has alleged that her preparations for the upcoming Commonwealth Games are being hampered due to politics.
Without pointing fingers at anyone in particular, Lovlina alleged that despite many requests her coaches are being denied the opportunity to stay in the Games Village and train her, hampering her chances to perform well. She also said that her campaign in the World Championships also suffered from similar situations.
In a social media post written in Hindi, the elite female Welterweight boxer wrote,
"Today, I'm sorry to say that I'm being subjected to a lot of harassment. My coaches who helped me win a menal in the Olympics, they are being removed every time to harass my training process and competition. Among them is Sandhya Gurung-ji, a Dronacharya awardee. My coaches are included in the camp very late after pleading with folded hands a thousand times. This causes me a lot of anxiety during training and mental harassment as well. Right now my coach Sandhya Gurung-ji is outside the Commonwealth (Games) Village; she is not being given entry and my training process has come to a halt just 8 days before the games. My other coach has also been sent back to India. I have made many requests, still this happened and it caused me a lot of mental harrassment. I can't figure out how to focus on the game. My last World Championship was also ruined because of this... I don't want to ruin my Commonwealth Games performance because of this politics. I hope I can break through this politics and win a medal for my country. Jai Hind."
Lovlina has won two Bronze medals for India in the World Championships. She became one of the most celebrated boxers in the country when she won a Bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics as well. She is also an Arjuna awardee.
Coming from her, it really gives the officials in charge of the Indian contingent at the Commonwealth Games a bad look. So far, the Indian Olympic Association is yet to respond to the allegations she has made.