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Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria has taken a significant step towards securing an Olympic quota for India at the World Olympic Boxing Qualifier in Bangkok, Thailand. The 22-year-old, who dropped down from 60kg, dominated Ana Marija Milisic of Switzerland in the round of 16, winning by a unanimous decision (5-0) in the 57kg weight class.With four quota places available in the women's 57kg category, Lamboria needs to win her quarterfinal on Sunday to book her ticket to the Paris Games and reclaim the quota for India. Parveen Hooda had initially secured the quota at the 2023 Asian Games, but her suspension for whereabouts failure forced India to surrender it.Lamboria, who had competed in the Asian Games and the first World qualifiers in 60kg, was allowed to participate in the 57kg event as a reserve. The bout against Milisic started cautiously, but Lamboria soon showcased her technical superiority, repeatedly jabbing her opponent.Despite Milisic's attempts to retaliate, Lamboria maintained distance with her long reach. She unleashed a combination of punches on a helpless Milisic, forcing the referee to give the Swiss a standing count. The bout resumed, but the outcome was clear.In the men's 57kg, former youth world champion Sachin Siwach fought valiantly but lost 0-5 to Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Carlo Paalam of the Philippines in the semifinals. However, Siwach will have another chance to secure an Olympic berth as the 57kg category offers three quotas. The two losing semifinalists will face off in a box-off on Sunday for the remaining quota.Nishant Dev (71kg), Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) have already secured their passage to Paris.

Reetika Hooda, India's rising wrestling sensation, has etched her name in history by securing an Olympic quota in the 76kg weight division for the Paris Games. This marks the first time India will be represented in this weight class at the Olympics.Hooda's journey to the top has been marked by unwavering determination and a fearless spirit. She believes in facing the toughest opponents to achieve greatness. Her recent success at the Olympic qualifiers in Bishkek, where she overcame formidable wrestlers like Davaanasan Enkh Amar and Juan Wang, is a testament to her exceptional talent.National coach Virender Singh Dahiya hails Hooda as the brightest Indian talent in women's wrestling. He praises her physical strength and mental fortitude, noting that she remains composed even when trailing in bouts.Hooda's inspiration stems from Olympic medalist Sakshi Malik and two-time world champion Amit Elor. She admires Elor's technical prowess and calm demeanor during matches.Her coach at Chotu Ram Stadium, Mandeep Singh, highlights Hooda's positive mindset and unwavering belief in her abilities. He credits her with never shying away from strong opponents and constantly striving to improve.The turning point in Hooda's career came with her gold medal victory at the U23 World Championships in 2023. This triumph instilled in her the belief that she could achieve Olympic glory.Hooda's mother has played a crucial role in her success, providing unwavering support and meticulous attention to her diet and hydration.With her Olympic quota secured, Hooda's focus now shifts to winning an Olympic medal. Her unwavering determination and exceptional talent make her a formidable contender for the podium in Paris.

Palak Gulia, the 18-year-old shooting prodigy, has secured an Olympic quota for India in the 10m air pistol event. However, her journey is far from over as she faces the daunting task of defending her quota in the upcoming Olympic selection trials.The trials, scheduled from April 18 to May 19, will be the first time India selects its Olympic shooting squad based on domestic competitions. The pressure is immense, as shooters know that their years of preparation could be wasted if they fail to perform.Palak's coach, Rakesh Singh, believes that her recent quota win will give her an edge in the trials. "She is in a good frame of mind and will go into the selection trials with a lot of confidence," he said.Palak's rise to prominence has been meteoric. She emerged from relative obscurity to win the 10m air pistol gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Her unexpected victory marked her as a special talent.However, the competition in the trials will be fierce. Manu Bhaker, Esha Singh, and Rhythm Sangwan will all be vying for the two air pistol quotas alongside Palak. Esha had previously earned the other quota spot."Shooters know that if you do not do well, all your hard work of two or three years is going to go to waste," said 25m pistol coach Ronak Pandit. "So, the pressure is going to be enormous."Despite the pressure, Palak's personal coach, Singh, believes she is mature beyond her age. "She is mentally strong and very mature. Her attention level at the time when she is in the firing lane is amazing, and that's what counts in shooting," he said.Palak's journey to the Olympics has been marked by both triumph and adversity. After her Asian Games gold, she struggled a bit and finished 25th at the Asian Championships. However, she stepped up just at the right time to seal the Olympic quota in the qualifying event in Rio, where she won a bronze medal.Now, Palak faces the challenge of defending her quota and proving that she is worthy of representing India at the Olympics. The trials will be a true test of her mental strength and shooting prowess.