Bhutia refuses to carry Olympic torch

As the Olympic torch was flown into the Chinese capital on Monday to be taken around the world, the shadow of Tibetan protests over the Beijing games seems to be growing.

When the Olympic Torch’s worldwide relay reaches New Delhi next month, Bhaichung Bhutia will not be there. That’s because the India football captain is teaming with those who think China’s isn’t handling the Tibet issue right.

Bhutia didn’t tell the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) as much. Replying to a faxed invitation sent by president Suresh Kalmadi ‘in the first week of March’ Bhutia told the IOA on Monday that he is pulling out of the run from Red Fort to India Gate due to “personal reasons.”