Deepak triumphs over Panghal once more, secures spot for Olympic Qualifier

World championships bronze medallists Deepak Bhoria (51kg) and Mohammed Hussamuddin (57kg) have secured their places in the Indian team for the World Qualification Tournament for the Paris Olympics. The tournament is scheduled for February 29 in Busto Arsizio, Italy. This comes as the second opportunity for boxing Olympic qualification after the Asian Games, where no Indian men boxers secured a spot.

Bhoria, chosen over Tokyo Olympian Amit Panghal, went through a detailed evaluation process by the high-performance unit. Under the new criteria, boxers are assessed across 15 performance parameters, including potential for international success, weight management, strength and conditioning, health management, and performance in training.

Deepak's superior performance

Chief coach CA Kuttappa highlighted Deepak's superiority over Panghal in various areas, particularly in technical and tactical execution during sparring sessions. The evaluation results showed a notable gap between Deepak (483 points) and Panghal (466 points).

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Mohammed Hussamuddin, who missed the Asian Games due to knee surgery, has made a successful comeback after a six-month rehabilitation period. Despite the injury setback, Hussamuddin topped the evaluations with 481 points, showcasing resilience and determination.

Next steps and Olympic Quotas

In the World Qualification Tournament, 28 Olympic quotas across seven weight categories in men's competition will be up for grabs. A second Olympic qualification tournament is scheduled for May in Bangkok. The Indian boxing contingent, including six-time Asian Championships medallist Shiva Thapa and other accomplished boxers, is gearing up for the crucial qualification events.

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Meanwhile, four women boxers, including Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, have already secured Olympic berths at the Asian Games. Additional women pugilists, such as World bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria and youth world champion Ankushita Boro, are set to compete in the upcoming Olympic qualifiers for the remaining berths.