3 boxers who can win a medal for India at the Paris 2024 Olympics
With just two days until the Paris 2024 Olympics, the excitement is palpable. The Indian squad of 117 athletes will compete in 69 events across 16 sports.
Among the highlights are six talented boxers: Amit Panghal (Men's 51kg), Nishant Dev (Men's 71kg), Nikhat Zareen (Women's 50kg), Preeti Pawar (Women's 54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (Women's 57kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (Women's 75kg).
In this article, we will look at three boxers who have the best chance of bringing home medals for India in Paris 2024.
#1 Nikhat Zareen
Two-time world champion Indian boxer Nikhat Zareen is gunning for gold at the Paris Olympics 2024. She is competing in the Women's 50kg category.
Since her childhood, Zareen has shown a fierce urge to break stereotypes over and above and challenge social norms. She started boxing at 13, and within a very short period, she made a name for herself by winning two gold medals at the 2011 Youth World Championships.
Zareen's career is studded with gold medal wins at the 2022 World Championships in Istanbul (Flyweight) and the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi (Light Flyweight). She won gold in Light Flyweight at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and a bronze at the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou.
Zareen is known for her footwork and defensive skills. It's her agility with sharp jabs and quick combinations, along with the knack of second-guessing the opponents, that makes her a formidable contender.
#2 Lovlina Borgohain
Lovlina Borgohain, a 26-year-old boxer from Assam, has overcome early struggles to achieve great success. She won a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and a silver medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, securing a spot for India at Paris 2024.
Borgohain's career has seen her emerge as champion at the 2023 World Championships in New Delhi. She bagged the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Championships in Amman and also took the bronze medals at the 2017 Asian Championships in Ho Chi Minh City and the 2021 Asian Championships in Dubai.
Lovlina Borgohain is competing in the Women's 75kg category. Known for her stiff defense and powerful punches, Lovlina rightly uses her height and reach advantage to keep opponents at bay. With a knack for adaptation and countering, she becomes a formidable presence in the ring.
#3 Amit Panghal
Amit Panghal has set his sights on clinching gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics. With a distinguished career already under his belt, Amit Panghal has achieved notable successes on the international stage.
His impressive career includes a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships in Yekaterinburg, a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta Palembang, and a gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Additionally, he won a silver medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast and a gold medal at the 2019 Asian Championships in Bangkok.
In all these years, the 28-year-old Indian boxer has developed his game tactfully. He increased his agility and quick footwork, which helped him evade opponents.