Defected boxers to be deported

NEW DELHI, March 13: The disappearance of top boxers Devinder Thapa and Lakha Singh in the United States was the first such occurrence in the sport though many Indian sportsmen in the past had `defected’ thus, Indian Amateur Boxing Association president, Ashok Mattoo, today said.

Mattoo said the two services boxers had however stayed back after participating in the World Army Boxing meet at San Antonio, Texas in December and the army authorities would take steps to get them deported through `normal procedure’.

The two boxers – who had vanished in Chicago after reaching the airport for departure for India – have been declared `deserters’ by the army and the Indian Embassy in the US has already issued an `apprehension roll’ to track them and deport them. Thapa had also won a silver at the meet. Services Sports Control Board officials were not available to respond to queries.