PTI
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 27
A remorseful L Sarita Devi has pleaded with the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to lift the provisional suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept her bronze medal in the Asiad, saying that she deeply regrets her outburst on the podium and would never repeat it. Sarita’s participation in the World Championships next month has been jeopardized due to the suspension imposed on her for refusing to accept the medal after a controversial semifinal loss in the Asian Games at Incheon.
“I do accept that the incidents should not have happened and I deeply regret the incidents with a pledge that this will never happen again,” the former world and Asian champion has written in her reply to AIBA’s notice.
“Realizing my mistakes, I had immediately tendered an apology letter to Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Organizing Committee of the Asian Games 2014 and accepted the bronze medal,” she said.
Sarita said her impeccable disciplinary record before the Asiad furore should be taken into account when her fate is decided by the AIBA’s disciplinary committee.
“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. 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,” she said.
Sarita also insisted that her actions on the podium were not planned and neither were they instigated by her husband or the three ringside coaches, who have also been suspended by AIBA.
“I would like to mention that my husband was unaware of the presence of the AIBA technical delegate and perceived everyone present as Asian Games organizers,” she said.
“I would like to state that my conduct during the medal ceremony was not premeditated and was an expression of deep emotional feeling, for which I sincerely apologize once again,” she added.
“I hold myself responsible for my actions during the medal ceremony and I was not acting on anyone’s instruction. My action did not prompt anyone else to act in a similar manner during the event. The coaches did not influence me in any manner,” Sarita explained.
She requested the AIBA to lift the sanction imposed on her.
“I sincerely apologize once again for my conduct and request your good office to lift the sanction so that I can continue the game I live for and love most,” she added.
Boxing India requests AIBA to be lenient on Sarita
Requesting the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to revoke the provisional suspension on L. Sarita Devi, Boxing India president Sandeep Jajodia on Monday said her unconditional apology and impeccable past disciplinary record would form the crux of her defence in front of the world body.
Sarita has been provisionally suspended for refusing to accept her bronze medal owing to a controversial semifinal loss at the Incheon Asian Games. The suspension has jeopardised her chances of participating in the World Championships from November 19 in Jeju Islands, Korea.
AIBA’s strict view of her protest on the podium prompted the Sports Ministry and the Indian Olympic Association to hold a meeting that will chart the future course of action.
“It was a purely emotional reaction and perfectly human for somebody to feel disappointed after a loss. It was not pre-planned, it was a natural outburst,” Mr. Jajodia said.
“We don’t deny that it was disrespectful towards the code of conduct for athletes but she tendered an unconditional apology. Besides, she does not have a history of such an offence and is quite a senior boxer.” Along with Sarita, three ringside coaches, including national men’s coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu, were suspended by AIBA.
