Shattered dream

Sarita Devi’s dream has been shattered due to biased and incompetent judges. Sarita had a baby boy last year and she wanted to box again. She worked terribly hard to get fit again, leaving her infant son with his aunt. She put in 18 months of relentless toil in this ferocious and painful sport while training in camps away from home.

Sarita won the bout against Park Jina. Even some Korean spectators admit that. But not the authorities. The negative role played by Indian officials added insult to the injury. It is further reported that she was in need of $500 for lodging a protest and she was short of $100. No official came to her rescue. An Indian spectator gave her the required amount.

The government must intervene to undo the injustice meted to the  iron lady.

RC DHAND, Bathinda

Biased judges

Apropos the editorial “Sarita fights back”, it is disheartening that referees and judges were biased. Boxer Sarita Devi lost the fight that she had won against South Korea’s Park Jina.

Vasundhra Mankotia, Kangra

Robbed of gold

Boxer Sarita got a shock over not getting the gold as she was robbed in the ring. Sarita had won the bout against Park Jina. Her years of toil and sweat were ruined by the corrupt or incompetent judges. So, Sarita decided not to keep the medal and gave it to the Korean. The rules are such that even if you know that you have been robbed, you cannot do anything against the five ringside judges. Though she stepped up on the podium, she did not bow down to receive the medal around her neck.

She wept on the podium and her anger was not against the Korean, but Indians officials who had accompanied the team. No official or political leader said anything in her support. She said had she won a medal, they would have been trying to get a  photograph with her.

Her protest against corruption in sports is justified. It is indeed a sad state of affairs as nobody was there to wipe her tears.

Raj Kumar Kapoor, Ropar

Bout fixed?

It was apparent from the performance of our boxer Sarita Devi that she had won the bout. But the judges gave a verdict in her opponent's favour. Everyone, right from the coaches to support staff, was surprised. AIBA should get the video footage of all doubtful bouts re-examined and the medal should be restored to the deserving players. And those who fixed the bout should be dealt with severely.

Anil Kumar Jaswal, Gagret (Una)

Insult of the sport

Indian boxer Sarita Devi lost the fight in the Asian Games due to cheating and wrong judgment. The dishonesty of the referees and judges is an insult of the sport. AIBA should look into the matter and satisfy the boxer.

RAHUL THAKUR, Hamirpur

Sarita fights back

It was amply clear that Sarita suffered at the hands of umpires who, it seemed, had flouted all rules of boxing. There is no doubt that Sarita could not control her anger at the podium during the medal presentation ceremony, but it does not absolve the judges of their mala fide intentions. Sadly, the Indian officials accompanying the squad failed to put forward her case. The lone Indian Olympic Association official watching the bout slipped the scene, leaving the boxer to fend for herself. She did not have enough money to lodge a protest and was helped by a spectator. The Boxing Federation of India and IOA should present her case by producing video clips of the bout so that Sarita gets justice and the guilty judges are removed from the panel for life.

COL KULDIP S GREWAL (RETD), Patiala

Probe needed

It is a matter of regret that boxer Sarita had to face a wrong decision at the Incheon Asian Games 2014. The emotions expressed by Laishram Sarita Devi are justified and natural from an athlete who suffered the loss of a chance to win a gold medal. The OCA appears to be inclined against the boxer and planning disciplinary action in the name of upholding the spirit of fairplay and sportsmanship. Aren’t the judges are bound to deliver fairly? Justice demands that the action of judges and referee should also be looked into as they declared an apparent winner a loser. It is regretful that Sarita Devi didn't get any support from Indian officials who chose to be absent from the venue after the incident.

Sharda Bhargav, Jalandhar

Non-players’ game

It was quite shocking to learn that Indian boxer Sarita had to borrow money for filing an appeal against the apparent biased decision of the match referee. The officials accompanying the Indian contingent appear to have sided with the referee, rather than placating the feelings of their own player. Such indifferent attitude must be condemned. Sarita has proved her mettle by refusing to accept the medal and become a role model for all players.

ASHOK K. ASHU, Patiala