JAKARTA: Two North Korean coaches were kicked out of the Asian Games Saturday after mounting a protest in the ring after one of their boxers lost the women’s flyweight final.
Coach Pak Chol Jun refused to leave the ring and incited boxer Pang Chol Mi to remain behind in protest against the judging after China’s Chang Yuan won gold on a 3-2 split decision. Both were eventually forced to leave by police and security staff after the nasty standoff marred the finale to the Asiad boxing competition.
Another coach, Pak Il Nam, got into an angry frenzy outside the ring as he tried to whip up the crowd to jeer the decision. Both coaches had their Asian Games credentials immediately revoked and will now face disciplinary action by the International Boxing Association (AIBA).
The large contingent of North Korean delegation members in the crowd and a big section of South Korean fans then jeered Chang unsportingly as she received her gold medal. Pang stood stony-faced as she received the silver medal, refused to acknowledge any cheers, then turned away from the Chinese flag during the anthem and would not join the other medal winners for the usual group photo afterwards.
There was no immediate comment from AIBA or the Olympic Council of Asia as to whether Pang would face any disciplinary action. The unsavoury scenes cast a pall over what had been a memorable day of action in the ring, and overshadowed two memorable achievements in the subsequent two women’s finals.
“The coaches’ credentials have been revoked and they will be sent forward to the disciplinary commission for them to review and take action,” AIBA executive director Tom Virgets told AFP. “We are going to get the message across to our people to accept decision.” (AFP)
