14:55 | Lima, Mar. 02 (ANDINA).
WBA female super featherweight champion Kina Malpartida should receive the Sports Laurels for her outstanding success in putting the name of Peru in the spotlight, said Peruvian education minister José Antonio Chang.
Chang said Peru's Education Ministry supports the proposal to award her the “Sporting Laurels,” the highest Peruvian decoration for athletes.
“We cannot ignore the efforts made by a woman born in Peru," said Chang.
In recent days there has been controversy over the proposal to bestow on Kina Malpartida the Sports Laurels award because some say that she was representing Australia when she won the WBA super-featherweight title in New York City last month.
According to Jorge Guizado, president of the Supervising Council of Justice and Honors (CSJDHD in Spanish), Kina Malpartida should not receive this award because she took Australian citizenship and her triumph was for Australia and not for Peru.
The CSJDHD is the final authority to decide if Kina Malpartida should receive the award.
(END) WCS/EEP
Published: 3/2/2009