Asian Games Controversy Continues: Sarita Devi snubs Mary Kom, defends her stand

New Delhi, Oct 15: Two week's after her controversial decision of refusing to accept Bronze medal at Incheon, South Korea during

, Sarita Devi defended her stand. While she refused to regret her protest at Incheon, she also snubbed Indian

legend

's comment on her.

While Sarita Devi was asked to comment on Mary Kom's remark on her protest, she said, "Look, I only got to know what Mary had said from you now. I didn't read any of her statements on my protest but whatever she has said is her personal opinion."

NDTV also quoted her as saying, "We (Sarita Devi and Mary Kom) went for our medicals together and talked of other stuff. I had no idea what she said to the media about my stand in the medal ceremony."

Whatever she has said is her personal opinion: Sarita Devi on Mary Kom's remark

"I received a lot of support from the other Indian athletes. Everyone was busy with their events but whenever we met up in the dining hall, they told me I had their full backing," said Sarita Devi while speaking about other athletes who were present at Incheon.

Earlier, Mary Kom, who won Gold medal at the Asian Games, had said, "If she (Sarita Devi) did not want to take the medal, it would have been good that she did not go for the medal ceremony."

"Little upset with her behaviour at medal ceremony. The judges did everything, the (South Korean) boxer did not know anything about this," Mary Kom added.

Sarita was barred from an entry into the final in the lightweight 60kg category by judges who were biased towards the home boxer - Jina Park.

The appeal later by the Indians was also shot down by the authorities. During the medal ceremony, Sarita was inconsolable, crying on the podium. She refused to wear the bronze medal before handing it over to South Korean Park. The home boxer left the medal on the podium.

"It's not that I did not want to accept the medal. I accepted it and then gave it back to the Koreans. I had to do this to continue with my boxing career or the memory of this incident would have stayed on in my mind. I would now go back and hug my infant child," she had said about the incident.

Later, facing suspension for her actions, Sarita offered an "unconditional apology".

OneIndia News