Sachin Tendulkar meets Sarita Devi, presents her autographed jersey

MUMBAI: After lending strong support to her cause, Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar met Commonwealth Games silver-medallist woman boxer L Sarita Devi, who is serving a one-year ban for her emotionally-charged protest at the Asiad.

"Met Sarita Devi. Could see the hunger for action in her eyes. Wished her success and wrote a message. Enjoy the game and always give your best," Tendulkar tweeted.

The iconic batsman met her at his home here and posted a picture of the meeting on his Twitter page. The retired cricketer presented her with an autographed T-shirt.

"I am grateful to him for the support he gave me. I met him to thank him for standing by me," Sarita told PTI about the meeting.

Sarita was penalised for refusing to accept her bronze medal at the Asian Games podium after losing a controversial semifinal bout.

Sarita's defiant protest on the podium irked the International Boxing Association (AIBA), which banned her for one year after initially handing a provisional suspension.

During the crisis, Tendulkar was among the top sportspersons of the country who threw their weight behind the Manipuri.