Laishram Sarita Devi, an Indian boxer was born on 1st March in the year 1985. She is hailing from Manipur. She is a national champion and a former world champion in the lightweight class. In the year 2009, Laishram Sarita Devi was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Government of India for her achievements in boxing.
Laishram Sarita Devi was born in Mayang Imphal into an agricultural family as the sixth of eight siblings. She used to spend her time helping her parents in collecting firewood and in the fields, which helped her build the stamina she has today.
Laishram Sarita Devi completed her high school in Waithou Mapal High School till the eighth standard. After that she went to Bal Baidya Mandir, Thoubal to complete her matriculation. She then went to an open-school to complete her twelfth standard to cope with the busy boxing schedule.
Laishram Sarita Devi turned professional in boxing in the year 2000. She was inspired by the achievements of Muhammad Ali who is an American former professional boxer, generally considered among the greatest heavyweights in the sport`s history.
In the following year, Laishram Sarita Devi represented India at the Asian Boxing Championships in Bangkok. There she won a silver medal in her weight class. In the following year, she won medals in various tournaments, including gold at the 2006 World Championships in New Delhi. She also won the silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Laishram Sarita Devi entered the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon of South Korea. There she competed in the lightweight category. With a win margin of 3-0 both in the Round of 16 and Quarterfinals, Laishram Sarita Devi entered the semi-finals to face South Korea`s Park Ji-Na on September 30.
After the match, Laishram Sarita Devi was handed a 0-3 defeat verdict by the judges of the match, which turned out to be hugely controversial, considering that Laishram Sarita Devi had knocked Park out in the third round and also a convincing fourth round, before having rained heavy blows on Park throughout the first two rounds.
Following this, the Indian team lodged a protest against the decision, which was rejected by the AIBA`s technical committee. At the medal awarding ceremony, Laishram Sarita Devi refused to accept her bronze medal and handed it over to the silver medallist, Park. However, Laishram Sarita Devi accepted the medal later. This was followed by provisional suspension of Laishram Sarita Devi and her coaches by the AIBA, barring from participating in the AIBA`s events until further notice.
