South Korean police said on Tuesday they have charged an official with Iran’s Asian Games delegation with sexual harassment and banned him from leaving the country following a complaint by a female volunteer at a soccer stadium.

The alleged incident occurred on Monday at Ansan Wa Stadium, one of the venues being used for the football competition. Police said a 38-year-old Iranian man had been charged without physical detention and that while he had admitted touching the volunteer he did not consider his actions illegal. An official from the Incheon Asian Games organisers (IAGOC) said on Tuesday that the Iranian was responsible for looking after the football team’s equipment.

The volunteer said she had been touched by the Iranian official when they were taking a photo together, IAGOC said. “We will have strong punishment ready for future perpetrators if anything like this incident happens again,” said the IAGOC official.

AFI clears relay teams

New Delhi: The Athletics Federation of India cleared both 4x400m and 4x100m women’s relay teams. Out of form triple jumpers Mayookha Johny of Kerala and Renjith Maheshwary have requested the AFI for another chance after they fell short of qualifying mark. The men’s 4x400m relay team also performed below par but the AFI has decided to give all these faltering athletes another chance during trials at the NIS Patiala on September 18. Shot putter Om Prakash Karhana was another athlete who was asked to take the trial on Monday but he endured an injury just before his event. The AFI is awaiting his medical report.

Tricolour for boxers

Mumbai: After giving provisional recognition to Boxing India, the sport’s world body has now permitted Indian pugilists to take part in the Asian Games under the national Tricolour. “AIBA has given permission to the Indian boxers to fight under the Indian flag at the Asian Games. When an Indian wins a gold medal, the national anthem will be rendered during the medal ceremony,” said AIBA’s Indian representative and senior boxing official Kishen Narsi.

AIBA has also asked the newly-elected BI body, headed by industrialist Sandeep Jajodia, to apply for membership of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). The world body has declared that the six-member ad-hoc body appointed by IOA to handle boxing affairs in India has ceased to exist.

Bonus for losing match

Seoul: Thailand’s women’s football team have been surprisingly rewarded with a bonus by the country’s FA head for only losing 5-0 to hosts South Korea in their opening match. “It’s disappointing that we gave away goals so easily in the first half,” Worawi Makudi was quoted as saying by the Nation newspaper on Tuesday after Sunday’s lopsided Group A defeat. “We fared better in the second half. The association had planned to give the team 200,000 Thai Baht ($6,200) if they won the match, but, for the players’ efforts, we decided to hand them 100,000 as consolation.”