Asian Games: Inconsolable Sarita Devi refuses bronze medal, faces ban

Incheon Distraught after losing her controversial semifinal bout Indian boxer L Sarita Devi todaystunned officials and spectators by refusing to accept the bronze medal which is now in the custody of organisersThe boxer is now facing an AIBA probe for returning her bronze medal during the podium ceremony with the world governing bodys supervisor describing her act as regretfulSarita who was declared a loser despite dominating the60kg semifinal bout against home favourite Jina Park wasinconsolable on the podium on Wednesday and was crying bitterly asshe stunned the officials and spectators by refusing to acceptthe bronze medal which is now in the custody of organisersAlso ReadAsian Games I wasted two years of my life says Sarita DeviSarita Devi Pic AFPThe boxer was in disbelief yesterday when she lost toPark who ended up as the silvermedallist Sarita was clearlythe better of the two pugilists but the judges thoughtotherwiseLeft in the lurch by the accompanying IOA officials shemanaged to collect USD 500 including with the help of ajournalist and Mary Koms husband to lodge an appeal againstthe verdict but lostThe former Asian and world champion then left theceremony Park visibly rattled by the turn of events leftthe medal on the podium and made her exitA sobbing Sarita later told reporters that she had to dowhat she did at the medal ceremony to continue with her boxingcareer or else it would have stayed in her mindIts not that I did not want to accept the medal Iaccepted it and then gave it back to the Koreans I had to dothis to continue with my boxing career or the memory of thisincident would have stayed on in my mind I would now go backand hug my infant child she saidShe was ready to accept the consequences of her actionsbut also accused the Indian officialdom of being uncaring inthe whole episodeI am prepared for any consequences Not one Indianofficial came to us and consoled or even spoke to usHours after her apparent defiance the AIBA termed heract as regrettable and initiated a disciplinary action processAIBA has already proceeded its Disciplinary ActionProcess to review this case and the decision will be madeimmediately after the Asian Games AIBA said in a statementAIBA in its statement said that its supervisor andTechnical Delegate David B Francis has submitted a report tothe Olympic Council of Asia OCA concerning the caseThe whole incident looked like a well planned scenarioby her and her team and it is regretful to watch a boxerrefuse the medal regardless of what happened in thecompetition Francis wroteIn this regard as the Technical Delegate I had torequest OCA to review this incident so any boxer or athletein other sports will not follow in her footsteps by respectingthe spirit of fairplay and sportsmanship of the OlympicMovement added FrancisThe report further added that while protesting theIndian did not follow the AIBA Technical Rules and protestedagainst the judges decisions though the Rules only allow aprotest against the Referees DecisionMeanwhile back home three Union ministers came out insupport of Sarita as sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal soughta report from the Indian Olympic Association IOA on theissueWe have sought a report from IOA on Saritas case Letthem give a detailed report and we will take further stepsSonowal told reporters in New DelhiHowever one of the prominent politicians of northeastand MoS Home Kiran Rijiju didnt mince words when he saidthat Indian officials should have been more proactive inlodging a protest to the Asian Games Organizing Committeewhich might have made a differenceWe are all sad as we all know that she won the boutRijiju saidFormer Army chief and MoS North East Region Affairs V KSingh said that boxings scoring and point system has beenmired in controversy for a long time nowWe have seen the refereeing and judging in boxing hasalways been questioned We have seen that Cuban boxers haveprotested in the Olympics Our delegation there should havecomplained at the right time said SinghHowever chefdemission Adile Sumariwala didnt supportSaritas behaviour as he felt that AIBA wont take herbehaviour very kindly