NEW DELHI: Indian boxer Sarita Devi has been banned for one year by the world governing body AIBA for her petulant behaviour at the Asian Games in October, Boxing India (BI) said on Wednesday.

Furious after losing her semi-final to local favourite Park Ji-na in the women’s lightweight division in Incheon, Devi refused to accept her bronze medal, prompting the International Amateur Boxing Association (AIBA) to suspend her indefinitely.

AIBA president Ching-kuo Wu predicted a bleak future for the Indian, who subsequently apologised for the behaviour, and BI officials were happy that the 29-year-old escaped a life ban.

“AIBA’s verdict on Sarita Devi comes as a relief,” BI president Sandeep Jajodia said in a statement, summing up the mood in the Indian boxing community.

“The one-year ban ending October 2015 can further be reduced, based on her good demeanour and hard work. Boxing India will, in the meanwhile, continue to correspond with AIBA to reduce the punishment, thus enabling and motivating Sarita Devi to prepare her qualifications for [Rio] Olympics.”

Jajodia later told reporters Devi had also been fined 1000 Swiss francs ($1,038) while India’s Cuban coach B.I. Fernandez, who cried foul after the bout and criticised officials, was slapped with a two-year ban and fined 2000 Swiss francs.

Devi said she was relieved by the year-long ban which still gives her a chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

“I am very happy for the support extended by the whole country,” Devi told the CNN-IBN channel. “I have a chance to qualify for the Olympics and I will try my best to make it.”

Indian sports minister Sarbananda Sonowal said he would urge the AIBA to revoke Devi’s ban.

“Sarita, who is one of the most talented sportspersons in India, comes from a very humble background and has risen high in her sport due to hard work, perseverance and talent,” Sonowal said in a statement.

Published in Dawn December 18th , 2014