Panghal’s tactical switch augurs well
NEW DELHI: This was one fight Amit Panghal was desperate to nail before the Tokyo Olympics. He almost did, pushing the 2016 Rio Olympics champion Shakhobidin Zoirov to the verge with a fiercely attacking approach in the 52kg at the Asian Championships boxing final in Dubai on Monday.
Panghal lost a bout he and the India coaches thought should have gone his way. But India’s best Olympic medal hope in boxing will head to Japan confident he almost upstaged his big rival for the first time in three meetings. Panghal had lost to Zoirov in the world championships final in 2019 and in a recent meeting in Russia.
Panghal felt it was the best he had fought against the Uzbek. “I think I did enough to win the bout. There is always scope for improvement and I will be more prepared next time,” he said.
“This competition has given me motivation. I played my best against Zoirov, and even the other boxers I faced were tough and I was able to beat them.”
Panghal beat two quality opponents in Kharkhuu Enkhmandakh of Mongolia and Kazakhstan’s Saken Bibossinov, who he also beat in the world championships semi-finals, in earlier rounds.
Indian boxers gave a good account of the form.
Five other Tokyo-bound boxers returned with medals from what could be their last competition before the Olympics in JulyAugust. Pooja Rani (75kg) headed the show by the women with a brilliant performance, winning her second successive gold in the continental meet. With a silver, Mary Kom (51kg) showed there is a lot left in her tank at 38. Simranjeet Kaur (60kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) among women and Vikas Krishan (69kg) among men won bronze medals.
Strongest squad
India will field its strongest boxing squad in the Olympics. Nine boxers—five men and four women—have qualified for Tokyo and appear to be on the right track for the Games.
Despite travel restrictions due to the pandemic, Indian boxers had prepared well. Panghal has competed in five tournaments since December and looks sharp and motivated.
“I have been consistent in big tournaments because I have trained well and competed in tournaments from time to time. That helps you gauge your preparation. I still need to work a bit on my endurance,” says Panghal, who has won medals in the last three Asian championships.