Asian Games: Sarita Devi refuses bronze medal
AFP
Oktober 2, 2014 02:44 MYT
Oktober 2, 2014 02:44 MYT
Sarita Devi blames poor judging for her loss to Park Ji-Na in the lightweight semi-finals.
A tearful Sarita Devi, who blames poor judging for her loss to Park Ji-Na in the lightweight semi-finals, refused to put on her bronze medal and then hung it round Park's neck.
"The whole incident looked like a well planned scenario by her and her team, and it is regretful to watch a boxer refuse the medal regardless of what happened in the competition," AIBA technical delegate David Francis said in a statement.
"I had to request OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) to review this incident, so any boxer or athlete in other sports will not follow in her footsteps by respecting the spirit of fair-play and sportsmanship of the Olympic Movement," he added.
The boxing body said that India's protests over Devi's loss were "obviously caused by a lack of understanding of the AIBA ... rules".
Devi's protest was a distraction day on the final day of women's competition in Incheon, highlighted by a flyweight gold won by her team-mate, Mary Kom.
The boxing's world body opened a disciplinary case against India's Sarita Devi Wednesday after she refused to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games in a protest over judging.
An International Boxing Association (AIBA) official said Devi's snub at the podium ceremony "looked like a well-planned scenario", adding that the case will be decided after the Games in Incheon.
Many netizen have also shared their disappointment and have supported her action to refuse the medal via social media.