Jamshedpur, May 15: For the first time, Jharkhand will be fielding ?borrowed? pugilists in National Games to be held in the state in January 2007. Though it seems absurd, but the lack of senior men pugilists in Jharkhand has forced the state boxing body to seek help from Services Sports Control Board (SSCB).

The shrinkage in job opportunities in Jharkhand, under the sports quota, has made several talented pugilists search for greener pastures of employment in other states or the armed forces. As many as seven boxers from Jharkhand have landed up with jobs in Services over the last three years or so.

?The services of pugilists from Jharkhand, who are working with the Services, would be availed to brighten the medal winning prospects in the upcoming Games, to be held in Assam, in February, next year,? said J.C. Vyas, secretary of the state boxing body.

He added that there is a provision that pugilists, who are employed with armed forces or other public sector organisations, can represent their respective states in the Games or national boxing championships.

Vyas, who was recently nominated as the vice-president of the Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA), said they have initiated talks with Jharkhand boxers, who are employed with the Services and the response has been positive. ?We have also initiated talks with their respective unit heads for seeking their release,? he added. He said they would also be including pugilists from Services in the team for the 2007 National Games in Jharkhand.

According to him, the seven pugilists who are employed with the Services include A Lakra (Navy, Mumbai), Jitender Kumar (Madras Engineering Group, Bangalore), S Chandel (Artillery Unit, Hyderabad), Navin Kumar (Navy, Mumbai), Afzal Khan (Army Signal Core, Meerut), Dumka Majhi (Assam Rifles, Shillong) and Kedar Shandil (58 Gorkha Regiment Training Centre, Shillong). Barring Lakra, rest would be donning Jharkhand colours in the Games, added Vyas. Lakra will be representing SSCB in the Games.

The senior state boxing body functionary also said lack of job opportunities has made them ride ?piggy-back? on Services as they intend to field a strong unit during the Games. ?The state government has so far not provided jobs to any of the men boxers. The boxers are left with no other option than to seek jobs outside,? Vyas said, adding that they cannot depend on inexperienced pugilists as far as winning medals in the Games was concerned. Vyas, however, added that there was no problem in selecting the women?s boxing squad for the Games as there were adequate women pugilists.

Also it has been observed, of late, that armed forces pick pugilists from the junior category leading to the crunch of senior boxers in the state.