Medal ceremony behaviour 'upsets' Mary
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

Incheon , October 04 2014 : India's boxing star Mary Kom is upset with compatriot L Sarita Devi's behaviour at the medal presentation ceremony of Asian Games 2014 where she refused to accept the bronze medal after controversially defeated in the semi-finals.

Mary, who won gold in the freestyle 48-51 kg category, said she felt "very sorry" for Sarita but did not support her bad behaviour.

"We were very sorry for her (Sarita Devi), but we are helpless, can't do anything.

It would be great if this (unfair judgement) does not happen in future," Mary Kom told "CNN-IBN" on Saturday.

"If she did not want to take the medal, it would have been good that she did not go for the medal ceremony.

Little upset with her behaviour at medal ceremony.

The judges did everything, the (South Korean) boxer did not know anything about this," Mary added.

Sarita was denied an entry into the final in the lightweight 60kg category by judges who were biased towards the home boxer - Jina Park.

The appeal later by the Indians was also shot down by the authorities.

During the medal ceremony, Sarita was inconsolable, crying on the podium.

She refused to wear the bronze medal before handing it over to South Korean Park.

The home boxer left the medal on the podium.

"It's 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.

I would now go back and hug my infant child," she had said about the incident.

Later, facing suspension for her actions, Sarita offered an "unconditional apology" .

"The Head of the Indian Mission at the Incheon Asian Games 2014 Mr Adille J Sumariwalla has forwarded to the President of the International Boxing Association Dr Ching-Kuo Wu, a letter of apology of woman boxer Sarita Laishram Devi (57-60 kg) who had refused to receive the bronze medal at the Award Ceremony for the 17th Asian Games," the International Boxing Association (AIBA) said in a statement.

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