R.Pugazh Murugan
Paris, July 26: Indian boxers are set for a tough competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. World champions Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) face challenging draws from the outset, while former Worlds silver medallist Amit Panghal (51kg) also anticipates a difficult path with potential high-stakes matches ahead.
Nishant Dev (71kg), a world championships bronze medallist, has received a more favorable draw. After securing a first-round bye, he will face Ecuador’s Rodriguez Tenorio. Should he win, Nishant may encounter Mexico’s Pan American Games champion Merco Verde in the quarterfinals.
Nikhat Zareen’s Olympic journey begins against Germany’s Maxi Klotzer. If successful, she will likely face China’s top-seeded Asian Games champion Wu Yu in the second round. Progress beyond Wu might see her compete against Thailand’s eighth-seeded Chuthamat Raksat, who previously bested her in the Asian Games semifinals.
Lovlina Borgohain, seeded eighth, starts her campaign against Norway’s Sunniva Hofstad. A win would likely pit her against China’s top-seeded Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medallist. Success in this bout could lead to a quarterfinal clash with either Australia’s fifth-seeded Caitlin Parker or Morocco’s fourth-seeded world champion Khadija El-Mardi.
Amit Panghal, who also has a first-round bye, will face Zambia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Patrick Chinyemba in the second round. If Panghal progresses, he may meet Thailand’s Asian Games silver medallist Thitisan Panmot in the quarterfinals. The semifinal could potentially feature a match against Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Saken Bibossinov or World champion Hasanboy Dusmatov.
Preeti Pawar, an Asian Games bronze medallist dealing with recent health issues, will start against Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh. A victory could set her up against Colombia’s Worlds silver medallist Yeni Arias, with a possible quarterfinal bout against Korea’s Olympian Im-Ae-Ji in the 54kg category.
Jaismine Lamboria faces a significant challenge in her opening match against the Philippines’ Olympic silver medallist Nesthy Petecio in the 57kg category. If successful, she could face France’s European Games gold medallist Aminia Zidani next.
As Indian boxers prepare for these formidable challenges, their resilience and preparation will be crucial in their quest for Olympic glory at the North Paris Arena starting Saturday.