Vijender Singh snubs Haryana govt, leaves for UK to train for pro debut

Off to greener pastures

India’s first Olympic medal-winning boxer, Vijender Singh has left for England on Wednesday to commence training for his professional debut despite not being granted leave by the Haryana government, where he serves a deputy superintendent in the police.

According to a source close to Singh, the ace Indian pugilist has to undergo cerain fitness tests before being permitted to contest his first professional match. The aforementioned source had the following to say about the exact date of Singh’s professional debut : "It will be decided in a week since it will depend on his fitness test. It could be in October. Earlier, he was given September 26 as the date but it looks highly unlikely that he will fight so soon."

It is yet to be ascertained if the boxer has apprised the Haryana police about his departure. Vijender has twice in the past requested the Haryana government to grant him extraordinary leave for a year to pursue his professional boxing ambition, to no avail. He then moved the court in August with a petition to implement the sports policy, which dictates that those recruited under sports quotas must be permitted to use their services in the primary pursuit of their respecive sports. The high court directed the state government to file an official response clarifying its stance on the issue, but it is yet to do so. The next hearing is on Monday.

Singh, in his petition presented precedents of other athletes who were allowed to participate in professional leagues while in the employ of the government. He said that his is a classic case of most other small-town sportspersons who struggle to support themselves financially while pursuing their passion. Singh was offered a contract by London-based professional boxing firm, Queensberry Promotions Ltd, the acceptance of which drew much flak from the Haryana government for signing a professional contract with monetary benefits while still employed by them.

Singh is one of India’ most decorated boxers, with medals in the 2008 Olympics, 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2010 Asian Championships. He is also a Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardee, which is India’s highest sporting honour. Singh is credited with garnering much mainstream attention for the sport of boxing in India, which does not receive the same recognition or support as sports like cricket and football. Singh is quite the poster boy for the archetypal “ignored athlete”, like boxers and wrestlers.