Sarita turns down bronze, CM extends solidarity
Source: The Sangai Express / Agencies

Incheon, October 01 2014: The victory ceremony of women's boxing light-weight category at the Incheon Asian Games witnessed a tearful Laishram Sarita attending the function only to refuse the bronze medal.

Chief Minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi Singh has expressed his concern over the incident that occured during the semi-final bout between L Sarita and Jina Park.

In a statement issued to the press this evening, the Chief Minister expressed hope that such an incident does not recur in the future and assured that he would be taking up the matter with the Union Minister of Sports, Government of India and the Indian Olympic Association for appropriate action in the right forum.

The Chief Minister also expressed his appreciation of the hard work and dedication of L Sarita Devi.

Sarita walking away without the medal at the Asian Games

The former World Champion accepted the medal, but did not allow it to be worn around her neck as customarily followed during medal ceremonies.

Later it was reported that Sarita handed over the medal to her South Korean opponent in the semi-final, Jina Park.

A confused Jina left the medal on the podium to the dismay of the Games organisers.

During the ceremony, Jina did try to trade the medal with the Indian boxer.

Earlier, Sarita, who was robbed of a gold medal bout at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea revealed that she might return the medal.

According to reports, her husband C Thoiba said that they "will accept the medal at the ceremony but are planning to return it as a mark of protest" .

On Tuesday, a dominant Sarita lost her lightweight semifinal bout against South Korea's Jina Park in dubious circumstances.

Following the match, Indian contingent lodged a complaint but it was rejected by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).

After the match, a distraught Sarita said, "I don't accept this decision.

It's wrong," even as her husband Thoiba confronted the match officials screaming: "You've killed boxing!" .

A sobbing Sarita later told reporters that she had to do what she did at the medal ceremony to continue with her boxing career or else it would have stayed in her mind.

"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 said.

She was ready to accept the consequences of her actions but also accused the Indian officialdom of being uncaring in the whole episode.

"I am prepared for any consequences.

Not one Indian official came to us and consoled or even spoke to us," she said.

Sarita returned to the ring after giving birth to a baby boy and won a silver medal in the recent Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Often compared to legendary, Mary Kom � who has qualified for the gold medal bout in women's flyweight (48-51kg) category.

Moments later, the gathering at Seonhak Gymnasium witnessed Mongolia's bantamweight boxer Tugstsogt Nyambayar losing his bout against South Korea's Ham Sang-Myeong, in similar fashion.

And in the afternoon, Sarita's brother Devendro was denied a place in semi-finals by judges.

Devendro, like his sister dominated the South Korean opponent Shin Jonghun in the men's 49kg quarterfinal bout from the start, but the judges ruled the home favourite winner.