Asian Games: Take this bronze medal, I deserve better, says Sarita Devi

Incheon Her senior and betterknown teammate MC Mary Kom might be the one with a biopic on her but Laishram Sarita Devis Asian Games story is worthy of one albeit a tragedy by itself A tragedy that is bound to see three episodes mdash the first two having already been enacted on Tuesday at the fight itself and the next yesterday at the medals ceremonyAlso readI wasted two years of my life says Sarita DeviIndias Sarita Devi in tears on the podium yesterday PicPTIThe third and final episode could come when the officials hit back at Sarita for embarrassing them The authorities would no doubt be seething after Sarita Devis refusal to accept the bronze medalSarita faces probeWith the AIBA opening a disciplinary case against her Saritas future is going to be rocky And be sure she will not get any help from the Indian officialdom which has been conspicuous by their absence at crucial junctures of this sagaYesterday a day after the heartbreaking loss when the injustice meted out to her was seeming to recede in public and official memory Sarita Devi was back at the arena ostensibly to receive the medal The four boxers from the 60kg mdash Saritas category mdash were brought around the podium There was no hint of what was to comeThere she was Sarita Devi mdash swollen eyes a puffed up face and shaking hands all evidence of a sleepless night after being adjudged the loser in a fight she dominated all through She seemed composed till her name was called and she went up the podium Then she broke down and burst out crying As she waved the fans were cheering her and chanting her name She stood with tears rolling down her cheeks when the official approached her with the bronze medalThen the unthinkable happened Sarita refused to allow him to put the medal around her neck After some coaxing she took the medal but held it in her hand the tears still not abating After the rest of the athletes were given their medals the Chinese national anthem started to play Thats when Sarita got off the podium and walked over to Park Jina mdash the Korean who was adjudged winner in the fight against her mdash and put the bronze medal around Jinas neckDrama on the podiumAfter putting the medal around the Koreans neck Sarita went and stood back on the podium But now it was the Koreans turn to go to Sarita and plead with her to take her medal back Sarita halfhugged her and held Park Jinas face in her hands and politely refused but the Korean persisted Ultimately Sarita kept the medal in her hands but left it on the podium as she left the ringAs hell broke loose and the media and officials ran towards Sarita the medal lay unattended on the podium Someone picked it up put it his pocket and tried to leave He was later caught by security Sarita said I felt that I should not accept the medal because I deserved to be in the final I dont mind if they take any action against me But I did not feel like accepting the medal and so I did thatWhen an Indian official tried to placate Sarita and her husband the latter started shouting Why has no Indian official even come and spoken to us The officials want to sit on chairs and take photos The husband accused the Koreans of stealing the medal Crying Sarita said It has been 24 hours and not one official has come to speak with me and ask me if I am fineIts not that I did not want to accept the medal I accepted it and then gave it back to the Koreans I had to do this to continue with my boxing career or the memory of this incident would have stayed on in my mind