Manoj Kumar, who won gold in the 69 Kg category at the recently-concluded national boxing championships in Visakhapatnam has hit out at the step-motherly treatment meted out to athletes of almost all sports except cricket. "In our country, it's sad that athletes who have represented the country at the Olympics struggle to get even basic facilities while even a Ranji cricketer gets a lot more. I'm an example of this. I'm a Class-III employee — ticket collector with the Indian Railways, while a cricketer, who plays Ranji get the Class-II officer's rank. Why," questioned Kumar, on the sidelines of the Fit India conclave held at a city hotel on Saturday. Politicians, who spend on crores on election rallies and functions are also to blame, said Manoj, a 2010 Commonwealth Games gold winner.

Manoj Kumar