Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar met the ace Indian boxer Sarita Devi at his home in Mumbai and wished her success for future matches. The Manipuri athlete was recently in the news when she rejected the bronze medal at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea last year. The 29-year-old athlete is now facing the one-year suspension by the AIBA since last year on disciplinary ground.

Sachin Tendulkar meets Sarita Devi

The event was the semifinal clash between India’s Sarita Devi and South Korea’s Park Ji-Na in September last year at the Asian Games but the clash is now more remembered for the controversy associated with it. At the end of the match, the judges declared the result in favor of the South Korean athlete and Sarita had to swallow 0-3 defeat at the hand of the Park Ji-Na.

The result was the controversial one since Sarita had convincingly slammed the South Korean boxer in the third and fourth round, but eventually Park was adjudged as the winner of the match. The Indian team was shocked to hear the result and protested against the verdict. However AIBA (International Boxing Association) stood by the decision.

Sarita broke down emotionally after the announcement of the result of this match and she also refused to take the bronze medal, which only infuriated the AIBA officials to a great extent. Sarita did accept the medal later, but until then she was already banned by the AIBA (International Boxing Association).

Sachin Tendulkar was amongst the first sportsperson from the nation to openly lend his support to the cause of Sarita Devi. He has been very vocal on the issue and morally supported the boxer time and again.

The Manipuri athlete seemed very elated on her meeting with the master blaster. She thanked the veteran cricketer for all the support that the legend has showered upon her. The spectacular Sarita has also won the World Championship in New Delhi in 2006.

Sarita Devi is also an Arjuna Award recipient but she will be unable to fight anymore matches unless the one year ban on her is revoked. Meanwhile Sachin Tendulkar gifted the ace pugilist with an autographed t-shirt and posted a selfie with her on the social media.

Sachin Tendulkar tweeted a few hours ago that he met Sarita Devi and wished her success. The 41-year-old cricketer felt that he could see the hunger for action in her eyes. Sachin has advised the athlete to enjoy the game and give her best whenever she gets an opportunity to do so.

Tags: AIBA, Asian Games, Boxer, Boxing, International Boxing Association, Master Blaster, Sachin Tendulkar