Boxer Sarita Devi finally received her Asian Games bronze medal, which she had refused to accept at the victory ceremony in Incheon under controversial circumstances with the Indian Olympic Association Secretary General Rajeev Mehta presenting it to her here on Wednesday.
“l Sarita Devi, bronze medal winner in boxing 60kg weight category in 17th Asian Games 2014 held in Incheon, Korea received her medal in New Delhi,” the IOA said in a statement.
Sarita was provisionally suspended by the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) after she refused to accept her medal following a controversial semifinal loss in the Asian Games.
The AIBA is yet to take a final call on the quantum of Sarita's punishment but Dr Wu has already made it clear that her career is “as good as over” despite tendering an unconditional apology for her actions.
Mehta said that the IOA has also written a letter to the AIBA to take a lenient view on Sarita. “I had a lengthy discussion with Sarita today and I told her the IOA is behind her. We have also written a letter to the AIBA to take a lenient view on her,” he said.