The coach and the officials around Sarita kept insisting there was no point in appealing as AIBA rules do not entertain protests against the judges’ decision.

Yet, Mongolia, victims of a similar decision, did protest and lost the $500 protest fee. They even threatened to withdraw the boxing team. Sure, nothing happened, but they had made a point and their boxer felt ‘wanted’.

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It took over two hours for Sarita and her husband, C Thoiba Singh, to persuade their coach to lodge a protest after putting in $400 herself and borrowing $100 from a journalist. Of course, the protest was rejected, but she had voiced her feelings.

A day later, Sarita carried on her protest by refusing the medal and putting it around the Korean, Park Jina’s neck. She in turn gave it back, while the Chinese anthem was being played, after which Sarita left the medal on the podium.

Protests and printouts denouncing judges indicated this may all have been planned but the hurt was so deep that it would have been difficult not to vent it out. Most of the officials have already begun washing their hands off Sarita, saying she could invite suspension the AIBA has already opened a case against her. The suspension, if it happens, will be a tragedy indeed.

But all this could have been avoided, had the officials shown some care and sympathy on the first day itself.

Ah, care, sympathy? But, those words don’t exist in the Indian officialdom’s lexicon.