Vijender Singh hints at quitting Haryana Police job
London-based pro boxing company, Queensberry Promotions had given Vijender a deadline of August 31 to join training in Manchester but the ace boxer, who is a deputy superintendent in Haryana Police, has still not got his leave cleared from the state government.
Giving a strong indication that he is contemplating leaving his job with Haryana Police for a pro boxing stint in England, Vijender Singh said that boxing is his 'first love' and he will prefer it to anything else. London-based pro boxing company, Queensberry Promotions had given Vijender a deadline of August 31 to join training in Manchester but the ace boxer, who is a deputy superintendent in Haryana Police, has still not got his leave cleared from the state government.
He filed a case in Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh, asking the Haryana government to clear status about his application for permission to participate in pro boxing. In a hearing on Thursday, the state government didn't file a reply and the court posted the hearing for September, dashing Vijender's plan to join training this month.
The boxer is furious at the Haryana government's lackadaisical attitude and hinted at quitting his job of a DSP. When asked will he resign from his job, he said, "I don't know why Haryana government is taking such a long time. I applied for leave twice in July and when I didn't get a reply, I filed a case this month. I wished they would have been quick in their response.
"It's simple whatever I am today is because of boxing. It's boxing which helped me to get the job of a policeman, and I can't leave my sport. Boxing is my first love and I love it more than anything else, I will box till my age permits," the boxer told Mail Today.
Since the deadline (August 31) of joining training is just a day away, Vijender said, "I don't know the exact day but I hope to start training soon, maybe in a week's time."
Vijender's move to pro boxing generated a lot of controversy. The Haryana government raised an objection, saying its employees can't avail any other monitory benefits, and being a pro boxer he wouldn't be able to represent Haryana Police. Vijender immediately applied for a year-long leave without pay (August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016). The Haryana government, however, is sitting on the application. Vijender moved court on August 13, seeking a reply from the government regarding the same.
Vijender signed a pro boxing contract in June with the Queensberry Promotions, a company owned by a promoter Francis Warren. At a press conference in London and later in New Delhi, Francis announced a pro debut for Vijender in September. A boxer needs at least four-six weeks of training prior to a bout. Vijender's debut could be stretched to mid October now. Queensberry Promotions didn't reply to a query about when Vijender will make his debut.