Sarita Devi Says Sorry to World Body, Boxing India Appeals Against Ban

On Monday, Boxing India has filed an appeal against the Amateur International Boxing Association ban on Sarita Devi. The boxer had earned the wrath of the AIBA for refusing to accept her bronze medal in the recent Asian Games in Incheon. Sarita had lost a controversial semifinal bout against a South Korean boxer and lodged an official protest that was rejected by the Games' technical jury.

Sarita has also sent a separate apology letter to the AIBA. The Manipuri boxer had made headlines after she refused to wear her medal during the award ceremony and in a dramatic move, garlanded Korean Park Ji-na against whom she lost a controversial fight. (Don't Regret Asian Games Protest, Had Thought of Quitting: Sarita Devi to NDTV)

In her letter to the AIBA, Sarita has written: "At the outset, let me tender my sincere apology for the incidents on September 30 and October 1. I do accept that the incidents should not have happened and I deeply regret the incidents with a pledge that these will never happen again.

"Realising my mistakes, I had immediately tendered an apology letter to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Organising Committee of the Asian Games 2014 and accepted the bronze medal.

"In my 14-year-long career, I had never been involved in any act of indiscipline or misconduct both in the national and international arena. (Suspending Chef-de-Mission Was Insult to India, Says IOA Secretary)

"Being one of the pioneers of amateur women boxer in the world who participated in the first World Women Boxing Championship in the USA in 2001, I would like to plea to your good office to consider my case and pardon me for the incidents in Incheon Asian Games, 2014."

If the AIBA ban is overturned, Sarita will be able to participate in the world championships in South Korea next month.