From Sarita Devi to Jesse Owens: The list of shockers at the sports podium

Sarita Devi's dramatic bronze medal rejection at the Asian Games and other famous sporting histrionics. Take a look at the incidents from a various sports:

Sarita Devi

The Indian boxer's defiant refusal of the bronze medal after losing a semi-final to Korean competitor Jina Park in the 60 kg lightweight category at the recent Asian Games is the stuff of soapbox drama.

The pugilist, upset over the refereeing in the match, holds back her emotions as she first accepts the medal. But then the dam breaks and a sobbing Devi walks over to Park and gives her the bronze.

Park tries to return it but all Devi wants from her is a warm hug. With that, she probably gave Bollywood its next sport biopic idea.



Kseniya Ryzhova & Tatyana Firova

Russia's openly anti-gay stance was the political undercurrent running through this year's Sochi Winter Olympics and these two Russian athletes used their moment of glory to highlight the issue.

After fending off America in the 4x400 metre race, the two kissed on the podium as a mark of protest against their nation's regressive laws.




Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer

2009's Australian Open gave us the defining image in the Roger-Rafa rivalry. After a crushing final loss, Federer was left verklempt. His spluttering incoherence moved Nadal to put his arm around him and console his legendary rival. Nadal outshone Federer, both in tennis and sportsmanship, that day.



Jesse Owens

This was one of the greatest snubs that wasn't. Owens, who was the track and field star of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, is believed to have been ignored by Adolf Hitler (as the lore went, Hitler left the stadium without shaking his hand). However, later in his life Owens revealed that he did shake his hand before he left and that he had a picture to prove the same.

Tommie Smith & John Carlos

This historic 'black power salute' by two US athletes at the 1968 Olympics was a powerful symbol of how the African American struggle for equality found deep resonance even among its sports persons.