Jamshedpur: Champion pugilist Aruna Mishra (37) will not be able to take part in the 2nd Elite Women's National Boxing Championship, scheduled to held in Rohtak from January 7, because her employers, the state police, dithered over her release.
Mishra, who was key to the 7-member Jharkhand squad's medal hopes, was assigned police duty at 6am on the day the team was scheduled to leave an hour and fortyfive minutes later. Hence, she could not go.
Sources close to Aruna, who is an inspector with the special branch in Jamshedpur, had written to DGP D.K. Pandey and JAP ADG Rezi Dung Dung with a request to be released from duty to prepare for the tournament. Later, on December 11, 2017, Jharkhand Boxing Association (JBA) also informed JAP about her selection for the national meet.
However, the release order reached the Jamshedpur office of the special branch at 5pm January 3. JBA informed her the same day at 7pm.
"But the same evening (January 3) I was asked by my department to report for duty the following day (January 4) for a governor's programme at Rahargora on the steel city outskirts. I reported for duty at 6am but the Jharkhand team had to leave for Rohtak (Haryana) at 7.45am," Aruna said.
ADG Dung Dung claimed he had issued the order for Aruna's release and that he wasn't aware she could not go for the tournament. "I am not aware about Aruna missing the national meet. I had issued the release order some days back. It should have reached the special branch," he said, but promised to look into the matter.
JBA secretary Uttam Singh said they had informed JAP about Aruna's selection but she could not accompany the team to Rohtak. "Our job is limited to informing the concerned department of a boxer. We did what was necessary," he said.
Aruna, a mother of two, has an impressive track record, having won three gold medals in World Police and Fire Games. She is a former Asian champion and also the current National Games champion.
Having missed the national meet, Aruna will not be able to qualify for the National Games, where performance is key for participation in international competitions.
