Sarita Devi handed one year ban by AIBA
She was also fined 1000 CHF (Swiss Frank) for refusing to accept her medal earlier a the Incheon Asian Games after she challenged the verdict of the judges in a game.
Sarita Devi, who was denied an opportunity to vie for a Gold since all judges had ruled in favour of the local boxer in South Korea in her semi-final in the last Asian Games, was in tears in the podium when she was asked to accept the bronze, as she refused to wear the medal in protest.
Instead of wearing the bronze medal after taking it in her hand, she handed it over to South Korean silver medalist Ji Na Park who had defeated Sarita in the bout of controversy.
L Sarita Devi (60kg) was defeated in a controversial match against local boxer Jina Park as she had to settle for the bronze.
Controversy clouded the match where Devi lost to Park 3-0 despite clearly being the better boxer.
Despite hit by Sarita's punches on her chins, the referee Algerian referee Hammadi Yakoub Kheira did not give a single standing count.
All three ringside judges ruled in favour of the local boxer.
Indian Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal last month said the government is behind boxer Sarita Devi while cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar after meeting the minister said being a fellow sportsperson "he understands what Sarita Devi had felt during the championship that led to her action at the Asian Games."
Tendulkar said the entire nation is with Sarita Devi to ensure that her career is not jeopardized.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) in October had banned Indian boxer L Sarita Devi for not accepting her bronze medal in the Asian Games.
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
