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Former world number one boxer Amit Panghal's hopes of qualifying for the Paris Olympics were dashed on Tuesday as he suffered a disappointing 1-4 loss to Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba in the 51kg pre-quarterfinal bout.Panghal, who had received an opening round bye, faced a determined Zambian opponent in Chinyemba, the reigning African Games champion. The Indian boxer struggled to find his rhythm in the opening round, as Chinyemba took the initiative and put him under pressure.Despite trailing on three cards, Panghal fought back in the second round, but his punches lacked the accuracy and power to trouble Chinyemba. The Zambian boxer continued to dominate the bout, taking the second round 3-2.In the final three minutes, both boxers exchanged heavy blows, but Panghal was unable to make a significant impact. The Indian boxer, who had suffered a similar exit in the Tokyo Olympics, failed to impress any of the judges and ultimately bowed out of the competition.Panghal's defeat marks a setback for Indian boxing, which has been struggling to maintain its dominance in recent years. The 2019 world championship silver medallist had been one of India's brightest hopes for a medal in Paris, but his early exit has raised concerns about the team's overall performance.

Amit Panghal, the 28-year-old Indian boxer, has undergone a remarkable transformation since the Tokyo Olympics. After a brief setback, he has regained his spot on the national team and is determined to fulfill his grandfather's dream of winning an Olympic medal.Panghal's grandfather, Captain Jagram Panghal, was an undefeated wrestler in his village. His image is now tattooed on Panghal's shoulder blade, serving as a constant source of inspiration. "It ensures he is always around me. I draw a lot of peace and confidence from it," Panghal says.Despite being the world No. 1, Panghal suffered a disappointing exit in the opening bout of the Tokyo Olympics. However, his resilience has propelled him to a second chance at Olympic glory.Panghal's resurgence began with a victory at the Strandja Memorial in February. He then topped the evaluation criteria at the national camp, earning his return to the team.To prepare for Paris, Panghal underwent a month-long training stint at the high-altitude center in Shilaroo, Himachal Pradesh. This has significantly improved his endurance and stamina."My endurance has improved a lot. Initially, I would lose steam after a bit of brisk walking at this altitude, but now I feel fresh throughout the bout," Panghal says.Panghal has also worked on his starting problems, which cost him in Tokyo. He now plans to adopt a more proactive approach from the opening round."The solution is to go on early attacks and land a few punches to impress the judges. I have changed my reactive strategy and have decided to be proactive," he says.Panghal identifies Cuban Alejandro Carlo and Uzbekistan's Hasanboy Dusmatov as his main threats in Paris. However, he remains confident in his ability to counter taller opponents with his pacy in-out style."It's the style that has worked best for me. I feel the endurance work will enable me to pull this off against the best," he says.

Indian boxers are determined to overcome recent setbacks and secure Olympic berths at the second World Qualification Tournament, starting Friday. Despite having four quotas initially, India's tally has dwindled to three due to Parveen Hooda's suspension. The previous world qualifiers saw a dismal performance, with only Nishant Dev advancing past the opening round.The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has made changes, bringing back Amit Panghal in the 51kg category. Panghal, a former Asian Games champion, is seeded second and has a potential quarterfinal clash with Liu Chuang of China or Anvarzhan Khodzhiev of Kyrgyzstan.Abhinash Jamwal will compete in the 63.5kg weight class, while Abhimanyu Loura will try his luck in 80kg. Nishant Dev, who narrowly missed out on a berth in Italy, is expected to return with a ticket to Paris in the 71kg category.In the women's competition, Ankushita Boro has moved down to 60kg, while Jaismine Lamboriya has been given a third shot in the 57kg category. National champion Arundhati Choudhary will compete in the 66kg weight class.Indian boxers are expected to add to their tally of three quotas, with 51 Olympic berths available at the tournament. "Our boxers are in a good mental position now," said Indian boxing coach CA Kuttappa. "The confidence from the sparring sessions has risen, and psychologists are playing a key role to keep them away from pressure."

Amit Panghal, India's star boxer, endured a tumultuous two-year absence from the national team due to a controversial evaluation system. The system, implemented by former High Performance Director Bernard Dunne, favored Deepak Bhoria over Panghal, despite Panghal's impressive track record.Panghal's exclusion took a heavy toll on his mental and physical well-being. He lost motivation, struggled to maintain weight, and even contemplated depression. However, his unwavering determination to qualify for the Paris Olympics kept him going.With Dunne's departure, Panghal's fortunes changed. He returned to the national team and regained his top spot in the flyweight category. A gold medal at the Strandja Memorial tournament boosted his confidence.Panghal will have his final chance to qualify for Paris at the World Qualifying Tournament in Bangkok. He faces a tough challenge, but he is confident in his abilities. He has been preparing diligently, studying his opponents, and working on his technique and endurance.Panghal's journey has been marked by adversity and resilience. Despite the setbacks, he has remained focused on his Olympic dream. With the support of his coach and childhood friends, he is determined to make up for lost time and secure a place in Paris.

Amit Panghal, a renowned Indian boxer, has been reinstated into the national team for the upcoming Paris Olympics qualifier in Bangkok, scheduled from May 25th. This decision comes after India's disappointing performance at the previous qualifier in Italy, where the men's team failed to secure any Olympic quota spots.In a bid to improve their chances, several changes have been made to the squad. Panghal, a Tokyo Olympian and gold medalist at the Strandja Memorial tournament in February, has replaced Deepak Bhoria in the 51kg class. Bhoria, a world championship medalist, had two opportunities to seal an Olympic quota but failed to do so.Other notable changes include the exclusion of world championship medalist Mohd Hussamuddin in the 57kg category and seasoned boxer Shiva Thapa in the 63.5kg class. Sachin Siwach and young Abhinash Jamwal will take their places, respectively.Nishant Dev, who performed well in the previous qualifier, has retained his spot in the 71kg category. Sanjeet (92kg) and Narender Berwal (+92kg) have also been given another chance to secure Olympic berths.In the women's category, India has already secured four of the six Olympic quotas through their strong performance at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. Ankushita Boro has replaced Jasmine Lamboria in the 60kg class, while two-time world junior medalist Arundhati Chaudhary will compete in the 66kg category.The Indian team will be hoping for a strong showing in Bangkok as they aim to secure the remaining Olympic quota spots. The selection process was conducted through an evaluation process by coaches in the national camp, following the resignation of India's high-performance coach Bernard Dunne.