Sarita Devi faces suspension over medal controversy

Boxer Sarita Devi is facing an inevitable suspension following her refusal to accept bronze medal at the presentation ceremony and presented it to her South Korean opponent. She refused to accept bronze in protest of judge’s decision to denied her victory against South Korean Park Ji-Na.

Even Park was shocked that she was declared winner.

“I am embarrassed by what has happened. She (Sarita) was the winner yesterday,” Park later told reporters.

“She (Sarita) hung her medal on me. I tried to give it back to her, but she didn’t want it. I wasn’t sure what to do, so someone told me to leave it on the podium,” Park added.

However, the International Boxing Association (AIBA) did not take Former world champion Sarita’s behaviour well on the podium and opened a disciplinary case against her.

“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,” AIBA technical delegate David Francis said in a statement.

Reacting to AIBA’s action, Sarita said to AFP, “I said, ‘This is for you and all Korea, because you only deserve a bronze’. Once I put the medal round her (Park’s) neck, I felt great relief… It was a protest… against injustice in sport. There should be fair play in sport.”

Meanwhile the sports ministry sought an urgent response from the Indian Olympic Association over the incident.

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