Sports Ministry, IOA back Sarita Devi after AIBA says her career is 'over'

Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Indian Olympic Association secretary general Rajeev Mehta have backed banned boxer Sarita Devi after the sport’s governing body AIBA said that she can expect a heavy punishment for not accepting her medal during the Asian Games in Incheon. Sarita, as a form of protest against the judges’ decision to award her semifinal bout to her South Korean opponent Park Ji-na, first refused her bronze medal, and then went and gave it to her — breaking down in tears at the podium during the ceremony. [caption id=“attachment_1800719” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Sarita, as a form of protest against the judges’ decision to award her semifinal bout to her opponent Park Ji-na, went and gave her bronze medal to the South Korean. AP[/caption] The incident led to her and three coaches receiving indefinite bans — including for the women’s world championships in South Korea — pending a final ruling of a disciplinary commission. AIBA president CK Wu commented on the incident, saying ““I think her boxing career is finished. The disciplinary commission is examining the case and will shortly give its final decision. She will be heavily punished, there will be zero tolerance.” Sonowal reacted to the statement by saying that the whole ministry was behind Sarita: “I am really hurt and shocked by what AIBA president has said. Hearing his comment, I would like to say that the whole ministry is behind Sarita. I have instructed the DG SAI (Jiji Thomson) to take up the matter with the Boxing India at the earliest. We want Sarita to get justice. Our government will continue to fight for her and we ensure full support to the boxer,” he was quoted as saying in a DNA report. In the same report, IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta went a step further, saying that the decision will be challenged if push comes to shove: “Let the decision come. We (IOA) will certainly talk to sports ministry first before challenging the verdict in CAS.” Sonowal also said that Sarita’s written apology should have been sufficient to convince the AIBA that her protest was not pre-meditated but a spontaneous reaction to a decision she thought was unfair. Click here to read the full DNA report.