Young Faces Shine in Paris, but India's Medal Tally Remains Stagnant

Young Faces Shine in Paris, but India’s Medal Tally Remains Stagnant

India’s Olympic medal tally at the 2024 Paris Games is expected to remain at seven, similar to the 2021 Tokyo Games. This is despite the contributions of young athletes like Aman Sehrawat (wrestling), Manu Bhaker (shooting), and Nishant Dev (boxing).

Wrestling, a major medal contributor for India, continued its streak of securing at least one medal at every Games since 2008. Sehrawat, a debutant, won bronze, while Reetika Hooda showed promise in her first multi-sport event. However, established wrestlers like Antim Panghal and Anshu Malik underperformed.

Boxing, on the other hand, faced challenges due to off-field distractions and a lack of bench strength. The squad, including Tokyo medalist Lovlina Borgohain and world champion Nikhat Zareen, failed to deliver. Experts suggest a reset button and a focus on grooming young talent.

Shooting, which had a disappointing performance in Rio and Tokyo, made a significant comeback with three bronze medals. Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh, and Swapnil Kusale contributed to the tally. However, the medals being bronze indicate room for improvement, especially considering the dominance of nations like China and Korea.

The performance of these young athletes in wrestling, shooting, and boxing reflects India’s need to address issues in preparation, planning, and talent development. The next Olympic cycle should focus on correcting these areas to enhance India’s medal prospects at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Indian Boxers Aim for Olympic Glory in Paris

Indian Boxers Aim for Olympic Glory in Paris

Indian boxing is poised to make history at the upcoming Paris Olympics, with a strong contingent of medal contenders aiming to surpass the nation’s previous Olympic boxing medal tally of three. Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, and Nishant Dev will lead the charge, navigating challenging draws in their respective weight classes.

Zareen, the reigning world champion in the light-flyweight (50kg) division, faces a formidable challenge. Her half of the draw includes top medal contenders Wu Yu (China), Chuthamat Raksat (Thailand), and Sabina Bobokulov (Uzbekistan). Zareen’s opening bout against Germany’s Maxi Klotzer will be followed by a potential clash with top-seeded Wu. If she overcomes these hurdles, she could face Raksat or Bobokulova, both of whom have recently defeated her.

Amit Panghal (51kg) has had a rollercoaster year, but he is determined to make amends for his first-round exit in Tokyo. He has received a first-round bye and will face African Games champion Patrick Chinyemba in the round of 16. Panghal’s path to the semifinals could include Asian Games silver medalist Thitisan Panmod (Thailand) and Rio Olympics and reigning world champion Hassanboy Dusmatov (Uzbekistan).

Nishant, one of India’s most consistent performers, has received a favorable draw. With a first-round bye, he will take on Ecuador’s Rodriguez Tenorio in the pre-quarters. If successful, he will face Pan American Games champion Merco Verde (Mexico) in the quarterfinals and potentially top seed Sewon Okazawa (Japan) in the semifinals.

Borgohain, the reigning Olympic bronze medalist in the 69kg category, has moved up to 75kg. She will face Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad in the first round, but her quarterfinal opponent, Chinese Li Qian, poses a significant challenge. Qian is a two-time Olympic and world medalist and defeated Borgohain at the Asian Games.

Preeti Pawar (54kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) will make their Olympic debuts. Pawar will face Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh in the first round, while Lamboria has a daunting task against Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio (Philippines) in her opening bout.

The boxing events at the Paris Games will be held at two venues, with the early rounds taking place at the North Paris Arena and the semifinals and finals at the iconic Stade Roland-Garros.

Nishant Dev Shines, Ankushita Boro and Sanjeet Disappoint in World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers

Nishant Dev Shines, Ankushita Boro and Sanjeet Disappoint in World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers

Nishant Dev Advances in World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers, Ankushita Boro and Sanjeet Suffer Defeats

Indian boxer Nishant Dev has secured a spot in the pre-quarterfinals of the men’s 71kg category at the first World Olympic Boxing Qualifiers. The World Championships bronze medalist outclassed Georgia’s Madiev Eskerkhan with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision on Thursday night.

Dev’s victory was a testament to his aggressive and calculated approach. Tokyo Olympics quarterfinalist Eskerkhan struggled to keep up with Dev’s relentless attacks. Despite Eskerkhan’s attempts to regain momentum in the second round, Dev remained unyielding, denying him any opportunity for a comeback.

Meanwhile, India’s youth world champion Ankushita Boro (66kg) and national champion Sanjeet (92kg) faced contrasting fortunes in their opening round matches. Boro fought valiantly but ultimately fell short 2-3 against Sonvico Emilie of France. Sanjeet, on the other hand, suffered a disappointing 0-5 defeat to Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan.

These results continue a challenging campaign for India’s boxers at the tournament. Despite the presence of over 590 boxers, India has yet to secure any additional quotas for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The tournament offers a total of 49 quotas, including 28 for men and 21 for women.

India had previously secured four quotas through Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) at the Asian Games. The second World Qualification Tournament will be held in Bangkok from May 23 to June 3, providing another opportunity for Indian boxers to qualify for the Paris Olympics.

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