Boxer Sarita Devi Accepts Bronze Medal After Olympic Council of Asia Hearing
At the medal ceremony in the Asian Games, boxer Sarita Devi had hung her bronze medal around the neck of silver medallist Jina Park, who controversially defeated her in the semi-finals, and left the podium without the medal which was left behind by the Korean too.
L Sarita Devi has finally accepted her bronze medal following a hearing between Olympic Council of Asia and India's officials in Incheon. She had earlier refused to wear the bronze around her neck during the medal ceremony on Wednesday. (Day 13 Blog | Medal Tally)
"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).
"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 (Friday) morning," contingent's chef de mission Adille Sumariwalla told PTI.
Lightweight woman boxer Sarita Devi, who was robbed off a shot at gold due to poor ring-side judging despite totally dominating her semi-final 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 semi-finals, 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.