Boxer Manoj Kumar Took Part In CWG & Asiad With Injured Hip Meaning Others Lost A Deserved Opportunity

Two-time Olympian boxer, Manoj Kumar, kept the government and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) in the dark about his left hip joint injury - which he was suffering from since 2016 - and went to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Jakarta Asian Games carrying this injury, resulting in an opportunity lost for other deserving pugilists in Manoj's 69kg welterweight category, a sports ministry probe has concluded.

TOI has reliably learnt that the ministry has finalised its report in the case of multiple CWG medallist Manoj, who had, in February this year, accused the SAI of not providing him the financial assistance of Rs 5,30,400 for treating his hip joint injury, while excluding him from the Target Olympic Podium (TOP) scheme as well as from the list of national campers in NIS, Patiala.

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According to the report, Manoj's pace (read reflexes) has become increasingly slow and the boxer needs a massive improvement if he's to make the cut for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the chances of which are slim in the wake of Manoj's waning boxing ability and recurring injury problems. To justify the point, the report has mentioned that Manoj defeated a weaker opponent (in Bhutan's Sangay Wangdi) in the first round of the 2018 Jakarta Asiad, but when faced with a tougher opponent in Kyrgyz boxer (Abdurakhman Abdurakhmanov) in the second round, he lost tamely (0-5).

Also, the report has mentioned that the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) knew about Manoj's injury, but allowed him to compete at the multi-sport events. The report blamed the BFI for remaining silent on Manoj's injury and not informing the government/SAI about it which it should have in the first place.

But, to be fair to the BFI, the federation has found a sponsor for Manoj and the boxer is rehabilitating at the Reliance hospital in Mumbai. A team of highly-specialised doctors and physios have been engaged by the BFI to get Manoj back in the ring at the earliest. The boxer's treatment has started a week ago.

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The report added that Manoj's hip pain aggravated since 2016 but he continued playing with it, hiding it from the authorities. For the Gold Coast CWG and Jakarta Asiad, he wasn't at his best but the BFI allowed him to compete. In fact, Manoj's hip pain further flared up just four days before the team was to leave for the Asiad, but he was still allowed to travel to Jakarta carrying the injury.

The ministry report has attached the then team doctor's medical report as annexure three to explain the case. TOI reached out to the doctor, who accepted that Manoj was indeed injured before the Asiad. The doctor, on condition of anonymity, revealed, "He told us about the injury just days ahead of the Asiad. He came up to me and told that his hip pain has aggravated. Since, it was too late for the BFI to name a replacement in his category, Manoj was allowed to compete. The MRI scans did reveal it but he was allowed."

The report stated that the SAI spent Rs 36 lakh on Manoj's international exposure trips and training needs ever since he became part of the TOP scheme in 2016 until the 2018 Asiad, after which he was excluded. During this time, he received Rs 24.8 lakh from TOP. This also included Rs 60,000 that was paid towards treatment for his hip injury at the Kokilaben hospital in September 2018.

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Manoj had alleged that he needed Rs 5,30,400 to continue his rehabilitation at the Kokilaben, but the SAI refused to clear the amount saying it neither received any such proposal from the boxer nor he was part of the TOP to receive the funding. Manoj had said his injury first flared up at the Asian Games when his Kyrgyz opponent hit him below the belt during the bout.

TOI contacted Manoj for his reaction, who said, "I have all the mails and letters with me to show that I had sent the proposal to the SAI. Yes, I had developed some pain ahead of the Asiad, but the MRI scans didn't show any major signs of worry. I competed at the Asiad fit, it's just that the Kyrgyz boxer chose to fight unfairly and repeatedly hit me under the belt. If I wasn't fit, how did I win the CWG medal and national championships."

"They are saying that my reflexes have become slow. I will be returning to the ring in June-July this year and will shut my critics' mouth by qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. I am just yet not finished. There's enough firepower left in me."