Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan bats for Sarita Devi
Politician raises issue during zero hour, asks government to intervene to stop her life ban
New Delhi: A strong plea was made by an opposition member in the Lok Sabha on Friday for efforts to avert a life ban on boxer L Sarita Devi from International Boxing Association for refusing her bronze medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.
Raising the issue during zero hour, Congress member Ranjit Ranjan said what has happened to Sarita Devi should not happen to any player as she was denied her due in the Games.
She said Sarita Devi could have bagged the gold medal if things had gone right at the semifinals of the women's lightweight (60kg) competition in September.
Ranjan wanted government to intervene immediately to avert a life ban for the boxer.
Sarita's protest took place a day after she was widely perceived as having been robbed by the judges in her semifinal bout with South Korean boxer Jina Park.
To the untrained eye, it looked like Sarita had dominated the fight, especially in the final two rounds, leaving her opponent with a bloodied nose. But the judges ruled in Jina's favour, causing boos to rain down from the crowd.
At the medal ceremony, Sarita burst into tears and refused to allow the bronze medal to be placed around the neck. She then took the medal and put it around a stunned Jina's neck.