Indian Boxers Advance at World Qualifiers, Boosting Olympic Hopes

India's boxing contingent continued their impressive run at the Boxing World Qualifiers in Bangkok, Thailand, with four boxers securing victories on Thursday. Sachin Siwach (57kg), Sanjeet Kumar (92kg), Amit Panghal (51kg), and Jaismine (women's 57kg) all advanced to the next round, boosting their chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Sachin Siwach, the 2022 Commonwealth Games silver medalist, began the day with a dominant 5-0 victory over Turkey's Olympian Batuhan Ciftci in the pre-quarterfinals. Siwach controlled the bout from the outset, earning unanimous verdicts in the first two rounds. Despite Ciftci's attempts at a comeback in the third round, Siwach remained composed and secured the win.

Sanjeet Kumar, the 2021 Asian Championship gold medalist, also registered a 5-0 victory in the round of 32, defeating Luis Sanchez of Venezuela. Kumar dominated the first round, preventing Sanchez from gaining any momentum. Sanchez showed some resistance in the subsequent rounds, but Kumar's experience and counter-attacking punches proved too much for the Venezuelan.

In the women's 57kg category, Jaismine continued her impressive form with a convincing 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan's Mahsati Hamzayeva in the round of 32. Jaismine controlled the bout from the start, not allowing Hamzayeva to mount any significant challenge.

Amit Panghal, the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist, completed a perfect day for India with a 4-1 victory over Mexico's Mauricio Ruiz in the 51kg category. Panghal faced some pressure in the first round but regained control in the final minute. He then turned the tide in the third round with a series of combination punches, securing the win.

With these victories, Siwach, Sanjeet, Jaismine, and Panghal have taken a significant step towards qualifying for the Paris Olympics. Siwach needs to win two more bouts to secure his spot, while Sanjeet, who received a bye in the round of 64, has a similar target. In the 57kg category, only three boxers will qualify for the Olympics, so Siwach's path to qualification is slightly more challenging.

Tags: #Boxing, #WorldQualifiers, #Paris2024, #SachinSiwach, #SanjeetKumar