According to news reports, boxer
Laishram Sarita Devi has refused to accept the bronze medal at the award ceremony at the Asian Games in Incheon.
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 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 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.
Asian Games 2014: Boxer L Sarita Devi refuses to accept bronze medal after being robbed of semifinal win | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis