Putting an end to the status of the bronze medal won by Indian woman boxer L Sarita Devi, the Olympic Council of Asia on Thursday re-instated her medal in the 60kg category after a hearing with the India's Asian Games contingent officials in Incheon.
Did boxer Sarita really show lack of sportsmanship? Tell us!
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"I attended the OCA working group hearing this morning and expressed regret over what happened at the medal ceremony (of the women's 60kg group) on Wednesday.
"I told them it had happened in an emotional moment. The OCA has reinstated Sarita Devi as the bronze medal winner. The medal will come to us tomorrow morning," contingent's chef de mission Adille Sumariwalla said.
Light weight woman boxer Sarita, who was robbed off a shot at gold due to poor ring-side judging despite totally dominating her semifinal bout on September 30 against her South Korean opponent Jina Park, did not allow the medal to be hung around her neck at the medal ceremony.
After accepting it by hand, she hung it around the neck of silver medallist Park, who controversially defeated her in the semifinals, and left the podium without the medal which was left behind by the Korean too.
Sumariwalla also said that he had asked for a review of the bout by an independent panel appointed by OCA.
"I have asked for a review of Sarita's bout by an independent panel appointed by OCA," said the former national men's sprint champion.
The threat of a ban on the boxer by the world governing body AIBA persists and Sumariwalla has said his priority now is to prevent this from happening.
Olympic Gold Quest gives 10 lakh to Sarita
Sarita Devi, who is enduring a torrid time, having lost her semi-final bout controversially at the Asian Games, received a morale-boosting support from the Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ), which has decided to award the Manipuri pugilist Rs 10 lakh.
Sarita's gold medal dream ended abruptly in Incheon when judges declared South Korea's Ji-na Park as winner despite that the Indian was a more dominating performer in the 60kg bout on Tuesday.
She lodged an appeal against the verdict but lost and then chose an unprecedented way to express her disappointment by refusing to accept the bronze medal at the podium ceremony and instead gave it to the South Korean.
Sarita, who is now facing a disciplinary action by AIBA, though has got backing of media and also from the promoters and supporters of the OGQ.
