LONDON >> The South Korean Olympic Committee is asking for an investigation into the defeat of a fencer who wept before the crowd while she waited for an appeal to be decided.

The South Korean committee says it wants an investigation by the International Olympic Committee. It also wants the governing body of fencing to apologize and “restore the honor” of fencer Shin A-lam.

Shin sat tearfully on the fencing strip Monday awaiting a decision after a chaotic end to her semifinal against Britta Heidemann of Germany. The South Koreans said time should have expired before the decisive point.

South Korean Olympic official Choi Jong-jun says the governing body acknowledged “mechanical errors” with timing equipment. Shin later lost the bronze medal match.

Choi acknowledges the possibility of the IOC’s giving an extra medal is “very low.”