India hope to get Sarita Devi's suspension reversed before World C'ships

Boxing India is confident of L Sarita Devi's return to the ring before too long after the International Boxing Federation (AIBA) suspended the 29-year-old for her petulant display at the recent Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.

Sarita was furious after losing her semi-final bout in women's lightweight division to local favourite Park Ji-na and lodged a protest against the verdict which was rejected.

- No boxer should experience what I went through: L Sarita Devi

The adamant boxer refused to wear the bronze medal and left it behind when the presentation was over, an action she subsequently regretted in a letter to AIBA.

Her apology, however, cut no ice with AIBA which slapped a provisional suspension on the boxer, three coaches and leader of India's Asian Games delegation Adille Sumariwala, barring them from all AIBA events.

"This case has been sent for review by the AIBA Disciplinary Commission, and it means that... Devi, the above mentioned coaches as well as Mr Adille H. Sumariwalla will not be allowed to participate to the AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships (in) Jeju 2014," the governing body said on its website.

Sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to pursue the matter and do whatever it takes to get the suspension overturned.

"We have not received any official communication from the AIBA regarding the suspension and don't know what exactly are the charges," IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told Reuters on Thursday.

"We are awaiting a formal communication and only after receiving that we can tell you about our next step."

Boxing India (BI) secretary general Jay Kowli virtually admitted Sarita would miss next month's world championship at Jeju City in South Korea but said the federation was trying to get the suspension lifted.

"The damage has already been done and I don't think she can participate in the world championship," Kowli told Reuters by telephone.

"We are guiding Sarita and trying to ensure that the issue is favourably sorted out.

"I saw the bout and I too felt she should have been declared the winner. It was an emotional outburst and she too realised that but the damage was done by then.

"We are trying a damage control exercise now. She is an Olympic medal hope for us in the (2016) Rio Games and we are working hard to get her back in the ring."

Image: L Sarita Devi of India cries after she refused her bronze medal during the medal ceremony in the Womens Light Division Final on Wednesday

Photograph: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images