Vijender Singh awaits govt's permission to join training in UK
Vijender will start his training in Manchester and will keep shuttling between Britain and India. He will fight his first pro bout in September.
ONCE bitten, twice shy. Last month, ace boxer Vijender Kumar invited criticism for not seeking permission from the Haryana government before signing a contract with a pro boxing company in London, and the Bhiwani boxer doesn't want to jump the gun again.
Vijender was supposed to start his professional training in Manchester on Monday, but the pugilist is still in India, waiting for permission from the state government.
The Olympic bronze medallist said he was expecting a call from the chief minister's office before joining training.
"I wanted to avoid any sort of controversy so immediately on my return from London after signing the contract with the Queensberry Promotions, I applied for permission to go for training and competition. I have been waiting for it ever since and expect to get it soon," Vijender told Mail Today.
Asked whether the state government had given him any specific date by which permission will be granted, he said, "No date was given to me. The permission may come tomorrow, day after tomorrow or can take even a week. It depends on the Haryana government. As of now, I can do nothing but wait."
Vijender said he was doing basic training at a gym in Gurgaon.
Also read: Vijender on turning pro: HC issues fresh notice to boxer
"Though I am not able to train in a pro set-up, I go to a gym near my residence in Gurgaon twice a day for basic training to maintain my fitness. Pro training is rigorous and very tough to pursue, but at least I should be in shape to start with and this I can manage for the time being," he said.
Vijender will start his training in Manchester and will keep shuttling between Britain and India. He will fight his first pro bout in September.
The 29-year-old signed a multi-year contract with Queensberry Promotions last month. But when he returned to India, Haryana Police, with whom Vijender is employed as a deputy superintendent, took him to task him saying he didn't take mandatory permission from the department before joining the pro league.
Vijender then met Haryana Director General of Police Y.P. Singhal to seek permission, a plea to which he is yet to get a response.