Laishram Sarita Devi

Laishram Sarita
Personal information
Full name Sarita Devi
Nationality Indian
Born (1982-03-01) 1 March 1982
Mayang Imphal, Imphal West, Manipur, India
Height 168 cm (5 ft 6 in)
Weight 60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
Sport Boxing
Rated at Lightweight
Club All India Police

Laishram Sarita Devi (born 1 March 1982) is an Indian boxer from Manipur. She is a national champion and a former world champion in the lightweight class.[1] In 2009, she was awarded Arjuna award by the government of India for her achievements.[2]

Early life

Sarita Devi was born in Thoubal Khunou Thoubal into an agricultural family as the sixth of eight siblings. She used to spend her time helping her parents in collecting firewood and in the fields, which helped her build the stamina she has today.[3] Sarita completed her high school in Waithou Mapal High School till the eighth standard and then went to Bal Baidya Mandir, Thoubal to complete her matriculation. She then went to an open-school to complete her twelfth standard to cope with the busy boxing schedule.[3]

Career

Devi turned professional in boxing in 2000, inspired by the achievements of Muhammad Ali. The following year, she represented India at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok, and won a silver medal in her weight class.[4] Following this victory, she won medals in various tournaments, including a gold at the 2006 World Championships in New Delhi. She also won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.[5]

2014 Asian Games controversy

Devi entered the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, competing in the lightweight category. With a win margin of 3–0 both in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, she entered the semifinals to face South Korea's Park Ji-Na on September 30. After the match, she was handed a 0–3 defeat verdict by the judges of the match, which turned out to be hugely controversial, considering that Devi had knocked Park out in the third round and also a convincing fourth round, before having rained heavy blows on Park throughout the first two rounds.[6][7] Following this, the Indian team lodged a protest against the decision, which was rejected by the AIBA's technical committee.[8] At the medal awarding ceremony, Devi refused to accept her bronze medal and handed it over to the silver medallist, Park.[9] However, she accepted the medal later.[10] This was followed by provisional suspension of Devi and her coaches by the AIBA, barring from participating in the AIBA's events until further notice.[11]

AIBA President, Wu Ching-kuo said that Sarita could be given heavy punishment for refusing to accept the bronze medal at the Asian Games.[12][13][14]

References

  1. ↑ "Laishram Sarita Devi defeats Alexandra Kuleshova of Russia in Boxing World Championships". sportskeeda.com. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "Mary Kom and Sarita Devi receive Awards". newstrackindia. 14 September 2009.
  3. 1 2 E-Pao!. "Laishram Sarita Devi - 'Arjuna Award' Awardee in the field of Women Boxing -". About Sarita Devi. E-Pao!. Retrieved 8 June 2012.
  4. ↑ "Woman boxer Laishram Sarita Devi crowned with Arjuna Award". oneindia.in. 29 August 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "CWG Silver Medallist Boxer Sarita Devi To Quit After Olympics 2016". NDTV. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  6. ↑ "Asian Games: Sarita Devi loses controversial bout, settles for bronze". India Today. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Asian Games 2014: Sarita Devi Loses Controversial Boxing Semifinal, Husband Loses Cool". NDTV. 30 September 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "Indian boxing team protest against Sarita's loss rejected". The Hindu. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  9. ↑ "Inconsolable Sarita refuses bronze, medal with organisers". The Hindu. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "Boxer Sarita Devi Accepts Bronze Medal After Olympic Council of Asia Hearing". NDTV. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Sarita Devi, coaches and chef-de-mission suspended". The Hindu. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
  12. ↑ Sarita Devi facing long ban, says International Boxing Association Archived 2014-11-12 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ Sarita Devi could face long ban: AIBA
  14. ↑ Sarita Devi will be severely punished, says AIBA
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