Former world number one boxer Amit Panghal’s hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics were dashed on Tuesday as he suffered a disappointing 1-4 loss to Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba in the 51kg pre-quarterfinal bout.
Panghal, who had received an opening round bye, faced a determined Zambian opponent in Chinyemba, the reigning African Games champion. The Indian boxer struggled to find his rhythm in the opening round, as Chinyemba took the initiative and put him under pressure.
Despite trailing on three cards, Panghal fought back in the second round, but his punches lacked the accuracy and power to trouble Chinyemba. The Zambian boxer continued to dominate the bout, taking the second round 3-2.
In the final three minutes, both boxers exchanged heavy blows, but Panghal was unable to make a significant impact. The Indian boxer, who had suffered a similar exit in the Tokyo Olympics, failed to impress any of the judges and ultimately bowed out of the competition.
Panghal’s defeat marks a setback for Indian boxing, which has been struggling to maintain its dominance in recent years. The 2019 world championship silver medallist had been one of India’s brightest hopes for a medal in Paris, but his early exit has raised concerns about the team’s overall performance.
