Sarita Devi has returned from a one year suspension after refusing to accept her medal at the Asian Games ©Getty Images

Indian boxer Sarita Devi has been named in a three-strong team to compete in a competition in China this week after completing a one-year ban from the sport for refusing to accept a bronze medal at last year's Asian Games in Incheon.

Devi suffered a controversial semi-final defeat to home favourite Park Ji-na in the women's under 60 kilograms division in the South Korean city, despite most observers believing she had won.

The 2006 under 52kg world champion refused to accept her bronze medal, placing it around the neck of Park, the eventual silver medallist, before leaving it discarded on the mat. 

Many in India claimed the result was yet further evidence of biased judging in the sport, with the country's Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar among those to leap to Devi's defence.

The International Boxing Association (AIBA) stood behind their judging system, though, and punished Devi. 

As well as a one-year suspension, the 30-year-old was fined CHF 1,000 (£660/$1,036/€830), although this came as a partial relief as there were fears in India she would be banned for life. 

Sarita Devi's abandoned medal lying discared on the floor following the ceremony in Incheon ©Getty Images
Sarita Devi's abandoned medal lying discarded on the floor following the ceremony in Incheon ©Getty Images

This week will mark her first return to a competitive ring since her suspension ended in October. 

She will compete from tomorrow alongside another reigning Asian Games under 75kg bronze medallist Pooja Ran and Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games under 51kg bronze medallist Pinki Jangra.

A 10-strong Indian men's team is also due to compete in the Chinese city of Qian'an, with the competition set to be held in conjunction with a training camp.

The city will also play host to next year's Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifiers, scheduled for March 23 to April 3 next year, with this week's competition billed as an opportunity to test the facility as well as to gain experience ahead of the vital event in the build-up to Rio 2016.

Indian boxers are getting few opportunities to compete internationally following the suspension of the country's Federation, with the sport being orchestrated by an AIBA-appointed Ad-Hoc Committee. 

Boxing India remains banned from AIBA due to a dispute surrounding alleged Government interference, meaning boxers fight under the umbrella of the International Federation rather than the Asian country when they do compete.



Related stories
January 2015: Devi plans to use year ban from boxing to prepare for Rio 2016 and write autobiography
December 2014: Devi "relieved" after handed year suspension rather than life ban
November 2014: Tendulkar goes into bat for disgraced Indian women's boxer
November 2014: "Every effort should be made" to ensure boxer Devi is pardoned, claims cricket superstar
November 2014: Exclusive: India will back whatever action we take against Devi, AIBA President Wu claims