Gurcharan Singh missing since two months

A top boxer who came within seconds of winning a first Olympic boxing medal for India at last year's Sydney Olympics has been missing for two months and local media reports say he may be in the United States.

Gurcharan Singh, an army boxer, has been missing since leaving a national camp on a two-day break in February, Indian Amateur Boxing Federation secretary Rajesh Bhandari said on Friday.

"He had to report to New Delhi but did not come. We have reported it to the army authorities," he said over telephone from the northern town of Shimla.

Gurcharan Singh saw a bronze medal tantalisingly slip from his grasp when he lost his quarterfinal bout against Ukranian fighter Andri Fedtchouk 60-42 on the tie-break after being locked 12-12 at the end of the thrilling four-round bout.

Local media, quoting the boxer's friends, said he is in the United States.

Bhandari said Gurcharan Singh was preparing for a competition in the Czech Republic when he disappeared.

"We had planned a camp for him too. He has cheated the IABF which did so much for him," he said.

Army authorities said they are investigating and have not declared the boxer a deserter.

Three years earlier, two Indian boxers Devinder Thapa and Lakha Singh, disappeared in the United States during an international army championship in that country.

Bhandari said the IABF officials will meet on May 13 to discuss the issue. "We are having a meeting on May 13," he said.