India's soccer captain Bhaichung Bhutia says he will not carry the Beijing Olympic torch during its run through the Indian capital of New Delhi later this month.
In a letter to the Indian Olympic Association, Bhutia said he is refusing to hold the torch because he wants to show his solidarity with Tibetans and voice his opposition to China's recent crackdown on anti-government protests by Buddhist monks in Tibet.
Bhutia, who is Buddhist, is the second athlete to refuse to run with the torch which set off on its journey around the globe from Beijing on Monday. He is from India's northeastern state of Sikkim, a Himalayan region that borders Tibet.
The Beijing Games torch is scheduled to pass through the Indian capital on April 17th.
Gautam Gupta has more on the story.
