Nine Indian boxers will strive to secure as many quota places as they can in the inaugural World Olympic boxing qualification tournament, commencing at the E-work Arena in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Sunday.
Before heading to Busto Arsizio, the Indian boxers underwent a 10-day training camp in Montenegro, where they trained alongside boxers from Ukraine, Tajikistan, Japan, Greece, and Hungary.
World championships bronze medalists Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), and Nishant Dev (71kg), along with former Worlds and multiple Asian medalist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), are poised to be prominent figures capable of securing slots in the Paris Olympics.
Bhoria and Nishant aim to bounce back from their Asian Games disappointments and showcase their potential. Meanwhile, Hussamuddin, returning from knee surgery, is eager to reaffirm his abilities. Thapa, eyeing his third Olympics appearance, is determined to clinch a spot.
National champions Lakshya Chahar (80kg) and Sanjeet (92kg), along with Asian Games bronze medalist Narender Berwal (+92kg), also stand a good chance of securing spots.
Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) and former World youth champion Ankushita Boro (66kg) will strive to earn quota places, aiming to finalize a complete women’s squad for Paris.
Four Indian women – Nikaht Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg), and Lovelina Borgohain (75kg) – have secured quota places for the Paris Olympics through their performances at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.
A total of 633 boxers, consisting of 400 men and 233 women, representing 115 teams, including 113 nations, a boxing refugee team, and a group of individual neutral athletes (mostly established to accommodate Russian and Belarusian athletes, although only two Belarusians have applied), will compete in the nine-day event.
With the exception of two weight categories, all others will offer four quota places. Women’s 57kg will provide two quota places, while women’s 60kg will offer three.
The Indian squad:Men:Male boxers including Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Nishant Dev (71kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Sanjeet (92kg), and Narender Berwal (+92kg) will compete. Among the women, Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) and Ankushita Boro (66kg) will represent India.
