Sonowal to request AIBA to be lenient on Sarita Devi

Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Sports and Youth Affairs Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said that he would request the International Boxing Association (AIBA) to be lenient on pugilist Sarita Devi.

"We are with Sarita Devi, everyone has expressed their serious concern about the matter," said Sonowal.

Meanwhile, legendry cricketer Sachin Tendulkar also voiced his support for Sarita Devi.

"We just want the entire nation to be behind Sarita Devi and move forward in the right direction. We had a discussion with the Sports Minister on how to move forward and request the AIBA to be lenient on Sarita Devi," said Tendulkar.

"On behalf of the Government of India, we are going to take up the matter with AIBA for her. Being a fellow sportsperson, I fully understand what she must have felt. It must have been a difficult moment for her," he added.

Earlier, the AIBA had suspended Sarita Devi and her coaches indefinitely because of her protest at the 2014 Asian Games. Sarita Devi had refused to accept the bronze medal at the podium during the award ceremony in protest against a controversial verdict handed out against her.