Gold for Kom, Devi refuses lightweight bronze

Indian female boxer crowned flyweight champion; teammate slams judges.

INCHEON: Celebrated Indian female boxer Mary Kom won her first Asian Games gold on Wednesday while a teammate refused to accept her bronze medal in a row over judging standards.

Five-time world champion Kom, 31, won a split decision against Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova to be crowned flyweight champion.

But attention focused on Sarita Devi after she refused her lightweight bronze medal and tried to hang it around the neck of the South Korean she lost to in the semi-finals.

Devi’s highly controversial defeat to Park Ji-Na on Tuesday had caused chaotic scenes with her husband scuffling with security and launching an expletives-laden tirade.

On Wednesday, Devi burst into tears as she walked to the podium with her arms folded and her head down.

As she was presented with the bronze she held up her hands and said she would not accept it. Twice officials tried to put it round her neck but she would not comply.

After the other medals had been awarded, Devi stepped off the podium, took the bronze from the official and went to shake silver medallist Park’s hand.

As Park gave a traditional Korean bow, Devi put the bronze round the bemused fighter’s neck.

“I said, ‘This is for you and all Korea, because you only deserve a bronze,’” said Devi.

“It was a protest for all the sportsmen and women of the world against injustice in sport.”

According to a spokesman, the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee members present had been ‘offended’ by Devi’s gesture.

“If she wanted to refuse the medal she should have not come to the ceremony,” he said.

S Korea win women’s hockey gold

Kim Dar-Ae scored the winner as South Korea ended China’s 12-year reign as the Asian Games women’s hockey champions with a 1-0 win in the final on Wednesday.

Kim’s decisive goal in the 41st minute handed the Koreans the title they won four times in a row from 1986 to 1998 before China emerged victorious in the last three editions.

India, who lost to South Korea in the semi-finals, defeated Japan 2-1 to pick up the bronze medal.

Meanwhile, North Korea upset defending champions Japan 3-1 to win Asian Games gold in the women’s football, avenging their loss in the final four years ago.

Track, doping rows cloud Games

All three top finishers in the men’s 800m final were disqualified as disputes flared at the Asian Games on Wednesday.

Malaysia also refused to return a gold medal over a failed a drugs test, and a Syrian karate competitor became the fifth athlete caught doping in a day of discord at Asia’s Olympics.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 2^nd, 2014.

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