Indian boxing coach Shiv Singh, on Monday, questioned the referee’s decision to award standing counts against his wards, Sarita Devi and Saweety Boora, in the ongoing Women's World Boxing Championships but refused to term it the reason for their losses.
Former world champion Sarita, who lost a close bout in 60kg against Kellie Harrington of Ireland in a 3-2 split decision on Sunday, faced a standing count in the third round while Saweety endured the same situation in the second round of her 75kg bout against Elzbieta Wojcik of Poland.
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Saweety, a silver winner in 81kg in 2014 World Championships, lost her bout 5-0.
Shiv said both Sarita and Saweety fell down not from the punches of their opponents and wondered how standing counts were done against them.
“Sarita slipped after her legs got entangled with those of her opponent and it was not from a punch. In Saweety’s case, she was pulled down. It was not from a point scoring punch,” the coach said.
“In the case of Saweety, the referee was on the blind side (and so did not see it) when she fell down but still gave a standing count. In Sarita's case, the referee saw it (how Sarita fell after entangling with her opponent) but he still went for a standing count against Sarita,” he added.
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Asked if the standing counts led to the loss of both pugilists, he said, “I am not saying that (standing counts led to the losses). Win and loss are part and parcel of boxing. But it is subjective to the decisions of the judges. Standing counts can pressurise judges (to give points in favour of the other boxer).”
Shiv also added that he did not know “why these kind of things were happening to Sarita”, who was banned by AIBA for one year in 2014 for refusing to accept her bronze medal during the victory ceremony at the Incheon Asian Games.
On Sunday, Sarita also questioned the standing count against her while terming the decision of the judges “ ulta (opposite)“.
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The 36-year-old Sarita, however, said that she will accept the decision as she does not want another ban. “It was not a standing count. My opponent was a southpaw and her legs got entangled in between mine and I slipped and fell,” she had said.
“I am not happy with the decision (of the judges). The decision has gone ulta (opposite), I thought I had the upper hand in all the three rounds. But what do I do, I was banned for one year after the 2014 Asian Games controversy. So, I cannot say anything now,” the 2006 edition gold winner had said.
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