Nishant Dev emerged victorious in the quaterfinals of the World Olympic Boxing Qualification Tournament 2024 in Bangkok to become the first Indian male boxer to secure Paris Olympics 2024 qualification on Friday, May 31.
After narrowly missing out on a quota in the first qualifiers, the 23-year-old boxer recorded a 5-0 win in his bout against Vasile Cebotari of Moldova in the 71kg category to bag the fourth boxing quota for India at Paris Games. Nishant joined Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preet Pawar (54kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) to earn a ticket to Summer Olympic Games starting on July 26.
However, Ankushita Boro suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 defeat against Sweden’s Anges Alexiusson in her quaterfinal bout to miss out on quota for the women’s 60 kg. India’s remaining two boxers Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) and Amit Panghal (51kg) will be in action at second qualifiers on Friday.
Boxing Federation of India part ways suspended International Boxing Association
Earlier on Friday, the Boxing Federation of India (BOI) took a big step to leave the suspended International Boxing Association (IBA) to join the breakway Wolrd Boxing. The BOI’s decision came after the International Olympic Committee appealed countries to distance themselves with the International Boxing Association.
“It is absolutely vital to the sustainability of boxing that it retains its Olympics status, so we are delighted to join World Boxing,” BFI president Ajay Singh said in a press release. “Shape the future development of the sport and deliver a brighter future for boxers across the world.”
More to follow…