Amit Panghal Secures 2024 Paris Olympics Quota with Victory Over China’s Liu Chuang

India’s ace boxer, Amit Panghal, has punched his way to the Paris 2024 Olympics by securing a decisive victory in the men’s 51kg category. In a hard-fought quarterfinal match at the 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok, Panghal defeated China’s Liu Chuang with a unanimous 5-0 decision.

Amit Panghal’s Road to Qualification

Panghal’s journey to the Paris Olympics quota has been nothing short of challenging. After losing his spot in the national team due to the Boxing Federation of India’s evaluation system, which favored world championship bronze medalist Deepak Bhoria, Panghal had limited opportunities to prove himself. His only major competition since the Tokyo Olympics was the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where he clinched the gold medal. Earlier this year, he also emerged victorious at the prestigious Strandja Memorial tournament.

The Thrilling Bout

The quarterfinal bout against Liu Chuang began cautiously, with both boxers assessing each other. Liu capitalized on his height advantage early in the match, and Panghal initially struggled to find his range. Despite landing a few scoring shots, Panghal ended the first round trailing 1-4. However, he adjusted his strategy in the second round, going on the offensive. His persistence paid off as he continued to land punches, with all five judges ruling in his favor.

The final round witnessed an energy-sapping exchange as both fighters traded punches aggressively. Despite the intense back-and-forth, Panghal’s experience and skill ensured his victory, securing India’s fifth spot in the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024 in boxing.

Joining the Elite Group

With this win, Amit Panghal joins an elite group of Indian boxers who have already qualified for the Olympics, including Nishant Dev (71kg), Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg).

Read More- Full List of Qualified Indian Athletes in the Paris Olympics 2024 [Updated]