Gurcharan's father 'not worried'

Boxer Gurcharan Singh, who missed an Olympic medal by a whisker at Sydney last September, is 'missing' since February this year, yet his family is "not worried" about it.

"He (Gurcharan) last came to his village Machhiwara, near Ludhiana, on February 17 to meet us and after that we are not aware where he has gone," said Jagir Singh, father of Gurcharan.

Gurcharan, a subedar with the Sikh Regiment, was in the village days before leaving to join the boxing team that was to tour Russia, but he never reached his destination, his father, an ex-serviceman, informed.

"I am not at all worried. My son has a non-serious attitude. He never used to communicate with us even through letters or on phone," Jagir Singh said, adding he might even be heading for America.

Jagir Singh is confident that his son is in good shape wherever he may be.

Gurcharan, who has an agriculturist background, has two brothers besides his mother and father.

Jagir Singh said he has already replied to a query from the army about his "missing" son.

Several Indian boxers, including Dharmender Singh Yadav and Raj Kumar Sangwan, have similarly disappeared in the past to turn professional.