Doping cases, boxing controversies mar Asiad
Doping controversies overshadowed the Asian Games on Tuesday as North and South Korea set up an explosive men's football final and uproar greeted some contentious boxing decisions.
Malaysia's Tai Cheau Xuen was stripped of her wushu gold medal and Iraqi superheavyweight weightlifter Muhammed Al Aifuri was also caught as doping cases ticked up to four. It was the Iraqi's second offence in six years.
Malaysia said they would appeal the ruling against Tai, without giving details of how it would be fought. A Tajik footballer and a Cambodian soft tennis player were expelled for doping earlier.
Doping was not the only controversy though. Boxing judges found themselves in the spotlight over a series of decisions that went in favour of South Korean fighters.
The husband of Indian lightweight Sarita Devi launched an expletive-laden tirade and tangled with security after South Korea's Park Ji-Na was controversially awarded their semi-final bout.
Mongolia's male bantamweight Tugstsogt Nyambayar contentiously lost a decision against Ham Sang-Myeong, prompting a brief sit-in protest and an official complaint.
Later, Indian light flyweight Devendro Singh Laishram looked well on top against Shin Jong-Hun but the South Korean was handed their quarter-final on a unanimous points verdict.
The International Boxing Association (Aiba) said it was not possible to appeal judges' decisions.
"This is a very sad day. We want to see fair play in sport," said Mongolia's chef de mission Badmaanyambuu Bat Erdene.
China surged to 125 golds, 71 ahead of hosts South Korea, with four days' competition remaining in the quadrennial regional Olympics in Incheon, west of Seoul.
Xie Wenjun cemented his status as the heir to China's former Olympic champion and ex-world record-holder Liu Xiang when he won the 110m hurdles in 13.36 seconds.
Li Jinzhe won the men's long jump and Li Ling took out the women's pole vault as China enjoyed a positive evening at the near-empty, 62,000-seat Incheon Main Stadium.
In football, North Korea's Jong Il-Gwan curled in the extra-time free-kick that downed Iraq 1-0 but he will miss the men's final after being sent off shortly afterwards.
South Korea joined them in Thursday's highly anticipated final when they beat Thailand 2-0 in the last four.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2014.
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I watched both the Indian boxers fight. They won their bouts, the decisions by the judges were perplexing.