Indian boxer banned for Asiad medal snub

Published December 18, 2014
In this photograph taken on Oct 1, 2014, gold medallist China’s Yin Junhua (L) and bronze medallist Vietnam’s Luu Thi Duyen (C) speak with India’s Laishram Sarita Devi after Devi refused to accept the bronze medal during the women’s lightweight (57-60kg) boxing medal ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.—AFP
In this photograph taken on Oct 1, 2014, gold medallist China’s Yin Junhua (L) and bronze medallist Vietnam’s Luu Thi Duyen (C) speak with India’s Laishram Sarita Devi after Devi refused to accept the bronze medal during the women’s lightweight (57-60kg) boxing medal ceremony of the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.—AFP

NEW DELHI: Indian boxer Sarita Devi has been banned for one year by the world governing body AIBA for her petulant behaviour at the Asian Games in October, Boxing India (BI) said on Wednesday.

Furious after losing her semi-final to local favourite Park Ji-na in the women’s lightweight division in Incheon, Devi refused to accept her bronze medal, prompting the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) to suspend her indefinitely.

AIBA president Ching-kuo Wu predicted a bleak future for the Indian, who subsequently apologised for the behaviour, and BI officials were happy that the 29-year-old escaped a life ban.

“AIBA’s verdict on Sarita Devi comes as a relief,” BI president Sandeep Jajodia said in a statement, summing up the mood in the Indian boxing community.

“The one-year ban ending October 2015 can further be reduced, based on her good demeanour and hard work. Boxing India will, in the meanwhile, continue to correspond with AIBA to reduce the punishment, thus enabling and motivating Sarita Devi to prepare her qualifications for [Rio] Olympics.”

Jajodia later told reporters Devi had also been fined 1000 Swiss francs ($1,038) while India’s Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez, who cried foul after the bout and criticised officials, was slapped with a two-year ban and fined 2000 Swiss francs.

Devi said she was relieved by the year-long ban which still gives her a chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I am very happy for the support extended by the whole country,” Devi told the CNN-IBN channel. “I have a chance to qualify for the Olympics and I will try my best to make it.”

Indian sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said he would urge the AIBA to revoke Devi’s ban.

“Sarita, who is one of the most talented sportspersons in India, comes from a very humble background and has risen high in her sport due to hard work, perseverance and talent,” Sonowal said in a statement.

Published in Dawn December 18th , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.