Amit Panghal added to Indian squad for latest Olympic boxing qualifiers, six changes made – Firstpost

World Championships silver medalist Amit Panghal has been added to the Indian team as the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) made six changes for the final Olympic qualifiers to be held in Bangkok from May 25 to June 2 . at the previous Olympic qualifying event, with all failing to secure quota places, following which High Performance Director Bernard Dunne resigned from his position.

In the latest assessment, conducted by foreign coaches Dmitry Dmitruk, CA Kuttappa and Dharmendra Yadav, 2023 World Championships bronze medalists Deepak Bhoria (51 kg) and Mohammad Hussamudin (57 kg), seasoned Shiva Thapa (63.5 kg) and reigning national champion Lakshya Chahar (80kg) missed the cut.

Panghal, who won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and 2024 Strandja Memorial, had repeatedly finished behind Bhoria in the rating, thereby missing out on the Asian Games and the inaugural World Olympic qualifiers.

In the women’s category, Ankushita Boro, who competed in the 66kg category, advanced to the 60kg category by defeating CWG bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria. Meanwhile, national champion Arundhati Choudhary emerged as the top performer in the 66kg category.

India has so far secured four quota places for the 2024 Olympics with Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) clinching their entry into Paris at the Asian Games last year.

India had nine boxers competing at the Tokyo Olympics.

Squad: Men: Amit Panghal (51 kg), Sachin Siwach Jr. (57 kg), Abhinash Jamwal (63.5 kg), Nishant Dev (71 kg), Abhimanyu Loura (80 kg), Sanjeet (92 kg), Narender Berwal (+92 kg)

Women: Ankushita Boro (60 kg), Arundhati Choudhary (66 kg).

With PTI inputs