“I have a lot of Tibetan fans all over the country. Fans from Dharamsala come down to watch my game whenever I am playing in New Delhi. It is on humanitarian grounds that I have decided to stand by them.”

Mao Siwei, China’s Consul General in Kolkata, said: “The footballer’s decision is very unfortunate. Politics and sports should not be mixed at all. In any case, it is his personal decision and one can do little about it.”

But Olympian Chuni Goswami stood by Baichung. “He has always been a different human being. I appreciate his decision,” Goswami said.

Indian tennis star Leander Paes and athlete P T Usha, who too have been invited to the torch run, had a different take though.

Usha told The Indian Express: “It’s Baichung’s personal decision. But it’s a great honour for me to run with the Olympic torch. When the government is not officially getting too involved in the issue, then I don’t think I should stay away from the ceremony.”

Paes said “I am proud to be invited. I must respect the Olympics as well as the Indian Olympic Association for inviting me.”