Boxing, World Olympic Qualifier: Amit Panghal wins Paris 2024 quota in men’s 51kg

Amit Panghal overcame a slow start to beat China’s Liu Chuang in the 51kg quarterfinals of the 2nd Boxing World Qualifiers and become the fifth Indian boxer to earn a Paris Olympic quota on Sunday.

India had earned three quotas at the 2022 Asian Games through Nikhat Zareen (women’s 50kg), Preeti (54kg) and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) by virtue of all of them finishing on the podium in Hangzhou, China.

Nishant Dev became the first Indian male boxer to secure a Paris berth earlier this week when he defeated Moldova’s Vasile Cebotari in the 71kg quarterfinals.

Panghal added to that list on Saturday with a fine display of tenacity and aggression against Chuang, who had drawn first blood by claiming Round 1 with some fine punches.

But the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist came out all guns blazing in Round 2 and attacked relentlessly to grab the advantage, impressing all the five judges. The deciding round was a frantic display of boxing by both pugilists as they attempted to outpunch each other.

Panghal ultimately came out on top as he smartly manoeuvred his Chinese opponent and landed his combination on his face and body to clinch the bout with a unanimous verdict.

India can clinch two more Paris Olympic berths later...

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