Sarita faces action after rejecting bronze

Boxer L Sarita Devi stunned the Asian Games authorities here on Wednesday when she refused to wear her bronze medal before presenting it back to her semifinal opponent Park Jina, a move that could land her a stiff punishment from the international body.

In tears while walking up to the podium after being controversially declared loser by judges despite dominating Park in the lightweight (57-60 kg) bout on Tuesday, Sarita refused to wear the medal around her neck, choosing to collect it by hand after being compelled by the presenter twice.

With her arms crossed and tears rolling down, the 32-year-old caused a mighty stir when she walked up to silver medal winner Park and hung the bronze medal around her neck. A stunned Park then came to Sarita’s slot and tried returning the medal but the Indian simply hugged her, whispered a few words and rejected the medal again. Sarita said she had told the Korean that she deserved only the bronze.

“This is for you and all Korea, because you only deserve a bronze,” she said.
Park then placed the medal on the podium that left world body AIBA embarrassed.


In a statement on its website in the evening, AIBA said it would open disciplinary case against Sarita. “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,” said David B Francis, an AIBA supervisor and technical delegate.

“In this regard, as the Technical Delegate, I had to request OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) 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,” the statement added.

AIBA said the Disciplinary Action Process has been started and a decision will be made after the Asian Games.

Earlier, an unflinching Sarita said she did such a daring thing to send out a strong message. “I did this to show to the world the injustice that has been meted out to me,” Sarita, with her husband Chonestham Thoiba Singh by her side, said.

“It was spontaneous. I felt completely hurt by what I call daylight robbery. I wanted to tell AIBA, you can’t take boxers lightly.

“By doing this, I stood up for the entire boxing contingent. There has to be someone to tell AIBA of injustices in refereeing and I decided to take up the responsibility. I am aware my actions today could have major repercussions on my career but I’m prepared. I feel proud of my actions today.”