March 11, 2026 12:11 pm (IST)
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India behind Sarita Devi, says Sports Minister, Tendulkar
New Delhi, Nov 26 (IBNS) Indian Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said the government is behind boxer Sarita Devi who has been suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) over her action at the Asian Games in South Korea when she protested her controversial defeat in a bout and refused to accept a bronze medal later.
"We are very much behind Sarita Devi. We will take up with AIBA the matter," said Sonowal after a meeting with eminent sportspersons.
"She worked very hard and made India proud. We spoke to eminent sportsperson today, including Sachin Tendulkar and decided to back her," he said.
Later Sachin Tendulkar after meeting the minister said being a fellow sportsperson "he understands what Sarita Devi had felt during the championship that led to her action at the Asian Games."
Tendulkar said the entire nation is with Sarita Devi to ensure that her career is not jeopardized.
The International Boxing Association (AIBA) last month banned Indian boxer L Sarita Devi for not accepting her bronze medal in the Asian Games.
The AIBA in a statement said: "AIBA Executive Committee Bureau decided today October 21, 2014 to provisionally suspend Mrs Laisham Sharita Devi, her coaches (Messrs Gurbakhsh Singh Sandhu, Blas Iglesias Fernandez and Sagar Mai Dhayal) as well as Mr Adille J Sumariwalla, Chef de Mission – India, who were all present at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, and not to allow any of them to participate at all levels of AIBA Competitions, Events and Meetings until further notice."
"This case has been sent for review by the AIBA Disciplinary Commission, and it means that Mrs Laisham Sharita Devi, the above mentioned coaches as well as Mr Adille H. Sumariwalla will not be allowed to participate to the AIBA Women’s World Boxing Championships Jeju 2014," it said.
Sarita Devi, who was denied an opportunity to vie for a Gold since all judges had ruled in favour of the local boxer in South Korea in her semi-final in the ongoing Asian Games, was in tears in the podium when she was asked to accept the bronze, as she refused to wear the medal in protest.
Instead of wearing the bronze medal after taking it in her hand, she handed it over to South Korean silver medalist Ji Na Park who had defeated Sarita in the bout of controversy.
L Sarita Devi (60kg) was defeated in a controversial match against local boxer Jina Park as she had to settle for the bronze.
Controversy clouded the match where Devi lost to Park 3-0 despite clearly being the better boxer.
Despite hit by Sarita's punches on her chins, the referee Algerian referee Hammadi Yakoub Kheira did not give a single standing count.
All three ringside judges ruled in favour of the local boxer.
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