Tendulkar presents autographed jersey to Sarita Devi

After lending strong support to her cause, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met with Commonwealth Games silver-medallist woman boxer L Sarita Devi, who is serving a one-year ban for her emotionally-charged protest at the Asian Games.

"Met Sarita Devi. Could see the hunger for action in her eyes. Wished her success and wrote a message. Enjoy the game and always give your best," Tendulkar tweeted.

The highest run-scorer in Tests and One-Day Internationals posted a picture on his Twitter page after meeting with Sarita Devi at his residence in Mumbai and presenting her an autographed T-shirt.

"I am grateful to him for the support he gave me. I met him to thank him for standing by me," Sarita said.

Sarita was penalised for refusing to accept her bronze medal on the podium after losing a controversial semi-final bout at the Incheon Games.

Her defiant protest on the podium irked the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which banned her for a year after initially handing a provisional suspension.

During the crisis, Tendulkar was among the country's leading sportspersons who threw their weight behind the Manipuri.

Image: Sachin Tendulkar presents the autographed jersey to Sarita Devi

Photograph: Olympic Gold Quest on Twitter