Boxer Sarita & Ningol Chakouba
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: Ocotber 25, 2014 -

Laishram Sarita - International Boxer - being welcomed at Imphal Airport :: October 4 2014 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Just a few days ahead of the Ningol Chakouba festival, Meitei Ningol Laishram Sarita had to adorn herself with a tearful sob for being humiliated like anything.

Boxer Sarita, along with her coaches Gurbakhsh Singh Sandhu, Blas Iglesias Fernandez and Sagar Mal Dhayal, as well as India's chef-de-mission to the Incheon Asian Games Adille J. Sumariwalla, was suspended by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) for the protest she had made during the medal ceremony of the 17th Asian Games.

The adamant boxer had earlier refused to wear the bronze medal and left it behind when the medal presentation was over, but she subsequently regretted the action to AIBA. In spite of her apology, the International Boxing body slapped suspension on her.

Now, Sarita would lose the opportunity to participate in the upcoming AIBA Women's World Boxing Championships in Jeju 2014.

In fact, as a Manipuri woman, she could not tolerate the discrimination and injustice done to her in the ring.

It has always been the spirit of Manipuri women that they would defy all odds in the way of justice.

The news of Sarita’s suspension shocked not only the boxer, her family and well wishers, but also the entire Manipur society, which has so far registered huge contributions towards sporting achievements of the country.

The more shocking is that the news came just a few days ahead of the Ningol Chakouba celebration, in and around which, Manipuri women receive all kinds of accolades, adorations, love, respects, applauds, blessings and greetings as a tradition.

‘Tears’ on the face of a Manipuri woman on the eve of ‘Ningol Chakouba’ has always been against the spirit of the festival. Sarita is a distinct sportswoman, a Ningol of Manipur. She is the Olympic Medal prospect for India in Rio Olympics 2016.

Reacting to the Sarita’s suspension, Union Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal already asked the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to pursue the matter and do whatever to get the suspension overturned. Moreover, Boxing India has expressed confidence of Sarita Devi's return to the ring.

However, Sarita would obviously miss next month's world championship at Jeju City in South Korea.

Discrimination and injustice should have no place in sports.

The embarrassment Sarita has so far received deserves all kinds of protests from the sports lovers around the world.

It is time for all the Manipuris particularly the sports enthusiasts of the state to raise their voice for the cause of justice to a sportswoman.

During this hour, the Chief Minister of Manipur, as a Sports Minister and also the Manipur Olympic Association need to come out strongly against the actions of AIBA and wipe out the tears from Boxer Sarita’s face in the name of justice.

It would be a fitting Ningol Chakouba ‘GIFT’ to the Manipuri Ningol.