New Delhi, July 26 (IANS) The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) Saturday acceded to its Olympics-bound boxing contingent's demand of including South African physio Heath Mathews in its support staff.
IOA came in for harsh criticism from the media after it was revealed Friday that the boxers were deprived of Mathews, who has been a big help to them, while a seven-member support staff was cleared for four tennis players.
The country's top boxer Akhil Kumar, who suffered a wrist surgery last year, lashed out at IOA for the biased stand in the selection of the support staff.
Indian Boxing Federation (IBF) Saturday thanked IOA for including Mathews to accompany the boxing contingent to Beijing.
'This wonderful gesture will certainly pay rich dividends in India's quest for a podium finish for the pugilists at Beijing 2008,' said IBF secretary general P.K. Muralidharan Raja.
The five Indian boxers are presently training at NIS Patiala and will arrive in Delhi July 31 to complete pre-departure formalities and will leave for Beijing Aug 2.
