A leading Indian news daily has reported that Indian Olympic Association officers offered the cold shoulder to boxer L Sarita Devi, who was denied a win in her semi-final match on Tuesday.
Indian Olympic Association (IOA) office-bearers chose not to involve themselves in Sarita’s case. What's worse, Sarita did not even have the $500 required to lodge a formal protest with the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
The publication says that Sarita, who believed the bout was 'pre-determined', waited for almost an hour for assistance, but no assistance was forthcoming. Her husband Thoiba Singh tried his best to work out a solution and lodge a protest. In the end, the duo had to take the required money from Sarita's coach Lenin Meitei and an Indian journalist.
Apparently,senior IOA officials, including secretary general Rajeev Mehta and deputy chef de mission Kuldeep Vats, were present at the venue but offered no help. Rajeev Mehta himself had no idea why there was a delay in filing the protest, being unaware of the procedure. Even Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) secretary general Randhir Singh decided to steer clear of the issue. He and Vats left the venue soon after Sarita’s bout was over.
The behaviour of Indian officials was in stark contrast to that of Mongolian officials, who reacted promptly after Mongolian boxer Tugstsogt Nyambayar was controversially ousted from the men’s bantamweight category. Nyambayar lost to a South Korean opponent after a controversial decision by the judges. Mongolian Asian Games head Badmaanyambu Baterdene reached the venue immediately, leading the protest begun by the entire Mongolian contingent, and took up the matter urgently with the authorities.
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