The sports ministry on Wednesday shot off a letter, in support of boxer Sarita Devi, to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) requesting leniency in her punishment for refusing bronze medal during the recent Asian Games.
The move comes with less than a week after cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar urged sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal to back the beleaguered pugilist.
In the letter addressed to AIBA president Ching-Kuo Wu, Sonowal requested the sports body to revoke the suspension imposed on the Indian athlete by taking a sympathetic view given her humble background.
Sarita was provisionally suspended by AIBA last month for her conduct during the Incheon Asian Games, where she refused to accept her medal following a controversial semifinal loss in the Korean boxer in the semifinals.
Though, AIBA has not taken final call on the quantum of punishment, Wu had recently condemned Sarita's behaviour on the Asiad podium and announced that her career is "as good as over". He said this even after the boxer had tendered an unconditional apology.
Sonowal wrote in the letter, "I would request you to consider the fact that Ms Sarita Devi comes from a very humble background and has risen in her sport due to her hard work, perseverance and talent.
"Her suspension has had a demoralising effect on other aspiring sportspersons who would like to emulate her example and achieve sporting excellence."
Sarita apologised in writing before leaving the Games Village in Incheon and her apology was accepted by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), who then restored her bronze medal a day later.
Citing the stern warning issued to Sarita by the OCA, Sonowal said that she has been punished enough.
"Keeping in view all the factors and in the interest of promotion and development of boxing in India, I would urge you to take a very sympathetic view of the matter and take no further action against her beyond what has already been done by the OCA," the letter further stated.
AIBA also provisionally suspended three coaches, chief coach Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu, Cuban coach BI Fernandes and coach Sagar Mal Dhayal, whose fate is also hanging in balance.
The decision to back Sarita got momentum after Bharat Ratna Tendulkar wrote to Sonowal on November 15 that "he is disconcerted by the reports that Sarita faces a potential ban threatening her career".
And last week, the iconic batsman reached the ministry and appealed to the countrymen to stand by her.
"We just want the entire nation to be behind Sarita Devi and move forward in the right direction. Being a fellow sportsperson, I fully understand what she must have felt. Must have been a difficult moment for her," Tendulkar said after meeting Sonowal.
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