Sarita Devi’s bronze reinstated after hearing

PTI INCHEON, OCTOBER 2 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. “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) yesterday. “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. Sarita awarded IIK National Pride Award Correspondent IMPHAL, OCTOBER 2 Laishram Sarita Devi has been awarded IIK (Indians In Korea) National Pride Award in recognition of her brave heart acts and performance in the ongoing Asian Games 2014 at Incheon. IIK awarded her with “IIK National Pride Award” with a cash Award of USD 1710 contributed by Indians In Korea (IIK) members, according to a press release. Following the controversial lost in the semifinal bout against the South Korean boxer Jina Park despite better performance by Sarita, Indian boxer L Sarita Devi on Wednesday stunned officials and spectators by refusing to accept the bronze medal. The release added that Sarita’s brave acts have united the Indian community and made IIK feel proud of their nation; hence IIK award is named as “IIK National Pride Award”.