Asian Games: Twitter erupts with contrasting emotions as boxer L Sarita Devi refuses bronze, Mary Kom wins gold

Today is simultaneously a joyous and saddening day in Indian sport. The legendary MC Mary Kom became the first woman ever to win a gold medal in boxing for India at the Asian Games.

However, Laishram Sarita Devi refused to take her bronze medal after being robbed of a victory by allegedly biased judges in the semifinals against South Korea. What's worse is that the Indian officials at the Games ignored Sarita Devi after she was denied the certain victory. In fact, some of them left the venue immediately after.

For Mary Kom, the gold medal is an achievement to savour, after she won bronze at the previous Asiad. For Laishram Devi, it is a reminder that in India, there is general apathy to all sports not named cricket, and even more so to women's sports. What is shameful is that Sarita did not even have to $500 to pay for an appeal against the judges decision, and nor did any of the officials help her.

Sarita's refusal to take the bronze medal at the award ceremony however has found her a place in the minds of Twitter users, alongside Mary Kom. Sarita mostly found empathy for her predicament and praise for her actions.

What #saritadevi did is called ONE TIGHT SLAP on the face of the IOA & the games officials. What a fighter both on & out of the ring. — Rashi Kakkar (@rashi_kakkar) October 1, 2014

My cartoon...#saritadevi #Sarita #MaryKomGold #MaryKom pic.twitter.com/MDLjK9TbIO — Neelabh Banerjee (@NeelabhToons) October 1, 2014

Brave Sarita doesn't need a medal. She is a winner all the way. #saritadevi Respect for her rejecting the bronze.

— Indian Military Fans (@Military_Indian) October 1, 2014

whoever says #saritadevi refusin d medal is unsportin,1st ans d injustice 2 her? she did d right thing. if nt these things vl continue — Jagdish (@jagacnr) October 1, 2014

#saritadevi some head should roll in IOA. Crackpot fatty idiots. — Abhinav Kr Rai (@videathink) October 1, 2014

#SaritaDevi had to borrow money to file a complaint to d injustice n India's #IOA excelled in being a mute spectator.#IstandWithSaritaDevi — Aditya (@goal_swaraj) October 1, 2014

Not #saritadevi but @IOA need to be asked questions for the bad behaviour and no support to palyers. @PMOIndia need to go hard on IOA — Anirudh K Sharma (@anijsw) October 1, 2014

Simultaneously, Mary Kom was a top trend on Facebook:

We can debate over whether it was right on Sarita Devi's part to not accept her bronze medal. However, #saritadevi is still the No 1 trend on Twitter in India. This is heartening for it means the controversy is not going to die a hasty death. For too long India has all been about cricket, with several other sports being completely ignored, players being paid low salaries, undone and insulted the way Sarita Devi was on Tuesday.

This despite the fact that India possesses a galaxy of stars in other sports as well, with incredible achievements to their name. This apart, women's sports have earned even less respect and recognition. If all this has to change, public outcry is necessary.