INDIAN weightlifters resolve NOT to use Chinese made equipment, Olympic Association of India also proposing to boycott Chinese products

Indian Weightlifting Federation (IWLF), affiliated to Indian Olympic Association, has joined the nationwide spontaneous movement for boycotting sports apparatus made in China following cold-blooded killings of as many as 20 Indian soldiers at the LAC in East Ladakh on June 15.
“The Indian Weightlifting Federation has taken the decision that it will not use any equipment made in China,” IWLF secretary general Sahdev Yadav said. The IWLF, in a letter, has informed the Sports Authority of India (SAI) about its decision to stop using any equipment made in China. “In a letter to SAI, we have written that IWLF won’t be using the Chinese equipment. In future also we will not use made in china sets. We will use sets made by Indian origin companies or any other company but not from China,” Yadav added. National coach Vijay Sharma revealed that the plates brought from China were found to be sub-standard when the lifters started training again earlier this month. “The sets were spoilt. We can’t use them now,” Sharma said. “All the weightlifters in the camp are against China. They have stopped using Chinese apps like Tik Tok. Even while ordering things online, they check where the product has been manufactured.” Asked why the sets were ordered, Sharma said they had no option as the equipment from China is to be used in the Tokyo Olympics and lifters needed to be familiar with it. “We had ordered four sets from China for Olympic training a year ago. Now, since we have resumed training post the lockdown, we haven’t used them. All the lifters are against the use of Chinese equipment as the quality is very bad. This was the first time we got it,” he said.