Some boxers tried to sweat off weight by using saunas only to return and weigh more than before.
If the organisers thought that the glittering opening ceremony set the tone for a hassle-free Commonwealth Games, they were in for a shock on Monday.
Inaccurate scales meant the weigh-in for the boxing events — which were supposed to start on Tuesday — will now be held just before the bouts.
Weigh-in ensures that a boxer is within weight restrictions.
Irate coaches demanded the scales be checked after some boxers tried to sweat off weight by using saunas or going for runs only to return and weigh more than before.
The officials abandoned the weigh-in after a 50kg weight brought in from the gym registered at 51.4kg.
New Zealand boxing management were disgusted with the turn of events. “It’s a farcical situation, especially when boxers who had tried to sweat off some weight had come back to another weigh-in only to be classified several kilograms heavier,” said the official.
“It is a very big drama,” Australian boxing captain Luke Woods said. “Boxers all over the world drop four or five kilos of their natural weight just to make the division and they are already dehydrated and haven’t eaten or drunk in 24 hours. When they are told they have to lose another kilo on top of that, it is like trying to get blood from a stone and very damaging for the body,” he added.
India coach GS Sandhu said there were issues but refused to elaborate on the incident. “Yes, a few boxers did face problem during weigh-in. But I don’t want to talk about it. We have our bouts tomorrow and that is more important for us,” he said.
Competition manager Lenni Gama initially denied any problem with the scales. “All this fuss is created by the teams who have overweight boxers. The scales are perfect,” Gama said. When asked the reason of postponing the weigh-in, Gama didn’t respond.
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