Hopeful Sarita to file plea to revoke ban

Don't want to miss the best from Business Standard?

In her bid to revoke the provisional suspension before the World Women Boxing Championships to be held Nov 14-23, boxer L. Sarita Devi will file her plea to the International Boxing Association (AIBA) Monday night.

Sarita, who refused to accept the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal after losing the semi-final bout over a controversial decision, was provisionally suspended last Monday by AIBA.

The world body also barred her coaches Gurbaksh Singh Sandhu, B.I. Fernandes and Sagar Mai Dhayal and India's chef-de-mission Adille Sumariwala to the Incheon Asiad 2014 from participating in AIBA competitions.

"AIBA is carrying out an independent inquiry regarding the provisional suspension on Sarita Devi, the coaches and chef-de-mission Sumariwala. AIBA had asked them for their replies. The player and others will file their reply individually by tonight," Sports Authority of India (SAI) executive director Sudhir Setia told reporters here Monday.

"The main aim of this entire exercise is to persuade AIBA to revoke the ban. The Secretary (Sports) has assured all possible help from the central government to Sarita Devi and others to ensure that the ban is revoked at the earliest. Till the time the ban is not revoked, both the player and the coaches will not be able to participate in the World Boxing Championship scheduled in South Korea Nov 14-23."

Setia conveyed that to chart a future course of action, a meeting, chaired by Secretary (Sports), Ministry of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, Youth Affairs & Sports was earlier held Monday.

The meeting included the president and secretary general of Boxing India, chief national coach G.S. Sandhu, Adille Sumariwala, chef-de-mission of Indian contingent at Incheon Asian Games, AIBA representative in India, Kishan Narsi and other officials from the ministry.