Imphal, September 23 2010: Former World Champion, Current Asian Champion and Arjuna Awardee, Laishram Sarita Devi has announced that she willl surrender her Arjuna Award to the Government of India unless trial selection for women boxers for the 2010 Asian Games is conducted once again within a week.

In a press release issued by her in New Delhi today, Sarita said that it is indeed very shocking that a few corrupt officials for their selfish interest had dragged the Indian Boxing Federation into controversy.

"This is an ugly trend that must be addressed adequately at the earliest so as to prevent the sports loving persons and players from becoming disillusioned about the Indian sports," she said.

"In fact, despite my wholehearted dedication and contribution to the Indian boxing, bypassing my good performance and professionalism, injustice has been done to me by the selfish clique in the Indian Boxing Federation whose ambition is to tarnish the image of the Federation.

This is being evident in the repeated trial processes where they had conspired against me" .

Sarita further said that the selection trial for the Indian women boxing team for the upcoming Asian Games in China was held in Bhopal for two days on August 20 and 21 last.

"Accordingly the selection committee had announced the selected names in which I was included in the 51kg category for my good performance with two other women players in the 60 and 75 kg categories.

It was published in the newspaper Hindustan (Hindi) on September 10" .

"But unfortunately the Indian Boxing Federation tried to keep the matter as confidential and delayed the announcement which should be widespread.

Surprisingly the Federation decided to hold the trial again without giving any specific reasons.

The retrial was fixed for September 22.Accordingly I took part in the trial that was held yesterday at the Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.

Media persons and friends and supporters were barred from watching the trial.

Despite my good performance in the trial, my name has been omitted deliberately by the Indian boxing federation.

This is an injustice" .

Sarita further stated that the Indian Boxing Federation should not be allowed to be converted into a den of conspirators and corruption by a few selfish officials.

Therefore she demanded that she should be allowed for a retrial in front of the media within a week from now.

The Indian Boxing Federation General Secretary Col Murlidharan Raja must apologize for indulging in favoritism in the selection process which is against the ethics of sportsmanship.

He must resign on moral and disciplinary ground, Sarita demanded.

She also drew the attention of the Union Sports Minister to intervene into the matter immediately and solve the issue.

Until and unless these demands are fulfilled, she would not play for India and she would also return the Arjuna Award that was awarded to her in 2009, Sarita announced through the press release.

The press conference she was supposed to address on the campus of Delhi University today has been postponed till tomorrow afternoon as the officials of her sponsor�Mittals Champion, Mumbai also wanted to attend the press conference.

It would be held tomorrow afternoon at the Manipur Information Centre, New Delhi, Sarita informed this reporter.

Video recordings of the trial held in Delhi would be distributed to the mediapersons, she said adding that she would insist the Federation on conducting a retrial and she would also submit memorandum to the Union Sports Minister and Indian Olympic Association.

Video recording of the bouts another boxer had with Mary Kom during the trial bouts and also with boxers from Haryana would be distributed at the press conference, she informed.

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