Atrocious judging triggers nation-wide protest
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Incheon / Imphal, October 01 2014: Distraught after losing her controversial semifinal bout, Indian boxer L Sarita Devi on Wednesday stunned officials and spectators by refusing to accept the bronze medal, which is now in the custody of organisers.

Three Union ministers on Wednesday came out in support of boxer Sarita Devi as sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal sought a report from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) on pugilist's controversial loss against Korean boxer in the semi-final of the Asian Games in Incheon.

"We have sought a report from IOA on Sarita's case.

Let them give a detailed report and we will take further steps," Sonowal told reporters today.

However one of the prominent politicians of north-east and MoS (Home) Kiran Rijiju didn't mince words when he said that "Indian officials should have been more pro-active in lodging a protest to the Asian Games Organizing Committee, which might have made a difference" .

Former Army chief and MoS (North East Region Affairs) V K Singh said that boxing's scoring and point system has been mired in controversy for a long time now.

"We have seen the refereeing and judging in boxing has always been questioned.

We have seen that Cuban boxers have protested in the Olympics.

Our delegation there should have complained at the right time," said Singh.

However chef-de-mission Adile Sumariwala didn't support Sarita's behaviour as she felt that "AIBA won't take her behaviour very kindly" .

The lightweight (60kg) boxer was in disbelief on Tuesday when she lost against home favourite Jina Park, who ended up as the silver medalist.

Sarita was clearly the better of the two pugilists but the judges thought otherwise.

She also lost an appeal against the judges' decision and on Wednesday tearfully made her way to the medal ceremony.

Crying bitterly on the podium, Sarita first refused to wear the medal before handing it over to Park after sharing an emotional hug with the home boxer.

The former Asian and world champion then left the ceremony.

Park, visibly rattled by the turn of events, left the medal on the podium and made her exit.

The Indian boxer, who was robbed off a gold medal bout at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea had earlier said that she may return the bronze medal.

According to reports, her husband 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 light-weight semi-final 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!" .

Sarita also blamed the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) for their inaction on the matter: 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 fly-weight (48-51kg) category.

Moments later, the gathering at Seonhak Gymnasium witnessed Mongolia's bantam-weight 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 quarter-final bout from the start, but the judges ruled the home favourite winner.

Meanwhile, International Boxing Association (AIBA) on Wednesday opened disciplinary action against Indian boxer Sarita Devi after she showed her dissent during the medal ceremony.

For the way she reacted, Sarita might face a lengthy international ban if found guilty by AIBA.

The boxing association also passed a statement saying, "Sarita could face lengthy international ban for refusing to accept medal" .

"AIBA has already proceeded its Disciplinary Action Process to review this case, and the decision will be made immediately after the Asian Games," added AIBA.

AIBA also informed that its supervisor and Technical Delegate David B Francis has submitted a report to the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) concerning the case.

However, Francis wrote in his report that: "The whole incident looked like a well planned scenario by her and her team, and it is regretful to watch a boxer refuse the medal regardless of what happened in the competition" .

"In this regard, as the Technical Delegate, I had to request OCA to review this incident, so any boxer or athlete in other sports will not follow in her footsteps by respecting the spirit of fair-play and sportsmanship of the Olympic Movement," added Francis.

However, talking to a English news channel, an emotional Sarita said, "I didn't want to take that medal to India as it wasn't mine which is why I gave it to the Korean boxer" .

"I did whatever I could do for my country and I have no regrets," the boxer added.

On the other hand, Manipur Olympic Association has expressed dissatisfaction over the decision given by the jury in the Boxing competition between L.Sarita and Jina Park of South Korea in 57-60 kg weight category.

In a release, the Association stated that it forwarded a request to Secretary General of IOA and the President/secretary of Indian Boxing Federation to approach the International Olympic Committee and International Boxing Federation to look into the matter.

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