Indian, Thais, Pinoys blast nasty officiating

INCHEON, South Korea – Asian boxing powerhouse countries like India and Thailand have expressed indignation over officiating that favored the host country – an alarming trend that could affect the gold medal chances of boxers Mark Anthony Barriga and Mario Fernandez in the semifinals and finals of the Asian Games boxing competitions.

Barriga is to fight Korean Shin Jonghong in the light flyweight semis today at the Seonhak gym.

Fernandez, who won by unanimous decision in the last three bouts, goes up against tough Chinese campaigner Zhang Zhou in the bantamweight. If he wins he could be up against Korean Ham Sangmyeong, who is fighting Yealiyev Kairat of Kazakhstan in the other semifinal.

Charly Suarez and Wilfredo Lopez will fight opposite Jordan boxers in the semis. Suarez takes on lightweight Alkasbej Obada Mustafa who knocked out Ali Ahmad of Pakistan in the round of 16 and won by unanimous decision over Korean Han Sangryong in the quarterfinal.

The Indian press here reported that their  woman boxer Devi Laishram Sarita returned the bronze medal to eventual winner Park Jina of Korea, who defeated her in the  women’s lightweight semifinal.

“During the awarding ceremonies, our boxer went to the podium to receive the bronze medal but instead of bowing his head for the presentor to put the medal around her neck, she took it with her hand and gave it to the gold medal winner and left,” said the Indian reporter.

“Park returned the medal to her but the Indian placed the medal on the table and left,” he added.

“She said she didn’t like to bring shame to her countrymen by bringing home the bronze,” he said.

The Indian and her coaches believed they were robbed of victory and their bet should have won the gold if not for biased officiating that favored the Korean.

Thailand also protested quietly over the loss of Ardee Saylo to Sangryong, who was eventually outclassed by Alkasbeh in the quarterfinal.

Lopez faces Jordan’s Alhindawi Odal Riyad Adel in the middleweight division.

The national boxing team also complained  about the loss of flyweight Clark Ian Bautista, who wept when the referee raised the arm of his opponent Choe Sangdon of Korea in the round of 16.