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Lovlina exits Commonwealth Games opening ceremony midway

Indian boxer stranded for close to an hour, decision doesn't go down well with country's chef de mission

PTI Birmingham Published 30.07.22, 03:23 AM
Lovlina Borgohain

Lovlina Borgohain File picture

Olympic bronze medallist Indian boxer Lovlina Borgohain was left stranded for close to an hour after deciding to leave the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony midway.

The ceremony on Thursday night went on for about two hours and Lovlina, along with another member of the Indian boxing contingent, Muhammad Hussamuddin, decided to leave early for the Games Village from the Alexander Stadium, a 30-minute drive.

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“We wanted to train in the morning as we have a bout the day after. The ceremony was to go on for a while, so we thought of leaving. We asked for a taxi but we were told that was not available,” said Lovlina.

They eventually took the first bus bound for the Village near the National Exhibition Centre. The Indian delegation has been provided three cars by the organisers, but their drivers were done for the day. India’s chef de mission Rajesh Bhandari was not pleased with the development.

“I got to know later that she and another boxer left early. We all came in buses and taxi option was not available at that time. They shouldn’t have come if they wanted to leave early.”

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