Amit Panghal and Nishant Dev are set to spearhead India’s campaign for Olympic qualification at the 2nd World Boxing Qualification Tournament in Bangkok. As India aims to secure maximum berths for the Paris 2024 Olympics, these two formidable boxers will play crucial roles. Reigning national champion Sachin Siwach will face New Zealand’s Alex Mukuka in the men’s 57kg category as well.
Former world No. 1 Panghal, seeded second in his category, and Dev, determined after a near miss in Italy, are poised to showcase their skills and determination on the global stage.
India has entered 10 boxers into this pivotal event—seven men and three women—joining a field of 579 participants from 133 nations. The tournament will determine 51 Olympic spots, setting a high-stakes stage for all competitors.
India boxers eye top 3 finish at 2nd World Boxing Qualification Tournament
To secure an Olympic berth, Indian boxers must reach at least the semi-finals in their respective weight categories. However, Sachin Siwach (57kg) and Anushkita Boro (women’s 60kg) must finish among the top three in Bangkok to qualify.
Former world No. 1 Amit Panghal (51kg), seeded second, has a favorable position, receiving a first-round bye. He is expected to face either Liu Chuang from China or Anvarzhan Khodzhiev from Kyrgyzstan in the quarter-finals.
Nishant Dev (71kg), who narrowly missed qualifying at the first tournament in Italy, will start his campaign against Amando Bighafa Naae of Guinea-Bissau. If successful, he will likely encounter a challenging second-round match against Bayramdurdy Nurmuhammedov of Turkmenistan.
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Ankushita Boro, Arundhati Choudhary aim to add more Paris Olympic 2023 quotas
India has already secured three Olympic quotas for Paris 2024. These were clinched by Nikhat Zareen (women’s 50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), who all won bronze at the Asian Games last year.
In the women’s category, Ankushita Boro is competing in the 60kg category, a shift from her previous 66kg. She will open against Mongolia’s Namuun Monkhor and may later face Uzbekistan’s Rashida Tagirova, who has a first-round bye.
National champion Arundhati Choudhary, competing in the women’s 66kg, will take on Stephanie Pineiro Aquino of Puerto Rico in the second round. She might face Slovakia’s Jessica Tribelova in the quarter-finals for a qualification spot, also benefiting from a first-round bye.
All eyes will be on Jaismine Lamboria in the 57kg category as she seeks to secure a quota for India. With a first-round bye, she will face Mahasati Hamzayeva of Azerbaijan in the second round. To earn her ticket to Paris, Jaismine must win three consecutive rounds.
World Boxing Qualification Tournament 2024 draw
Men
- 51kg: Amit Panghal (bye)
- 57kg: Sachin Siwach vs Mukuka Alex (NZL)
- 63.5kg: Abhinash Jamwal vs Andriejus Lavrenovas (LTU)
- 71kg: Nishant Dev vs Amando Bighafa (GBS)
- 80 kg: Abhimanyu Loura vs Kristiyan Nikolov (BUL)
- 92 kg: Sanjeet (bye)
- +92kg: Narender Berwal (bye)
Women
- 57kg: Jaismine Lamboria (bye)
- 60kg: Anushkita Boro vs Namuun Monkhar (MON)
- 66kg: Arundhati Choudhary (bye)