Vikas among four to enter semis, qualify for Tokyo
AMMAN: Four Indian boxers, including the seasoned duo of Vikas Krishan (69kg) and Pooja Rani (75kg), secured Tokyo Olympic berths by advancing to the semi-finals of the Asian Qualifiers with contrasting quarter-final victories.
Rani, Krishan (69kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Ashish Kumar (75kg) became the first set of Indian boxers to qualify for the showpiece scheduled in July-August this year.
While fourth-seeded Rani notched up a facile 5-0 win over Thailand’s Pornnipa Chutee, Krishan endured a tough one against third-seeded Japanese Sewonrets Okazawa before also prevailing in a unanimous verdict against the Asian silver-medallist. In the evening session, twotime world bronze-winner and second seed Borgohain eased past Uzbekistan’s Maftunakhon Melieva to enter the semis. Also through to the last-four stage was Asian silver-medallist Kumar with a 5-0 win over Indonesia’s Maikhel Roberrd Muskita, the bout being tougher than what the final scoreline might suggest.
“I managed to execute whatever I had planned. I wanted to fight from a distance and counterattack, which I could do. Just qualifying is not enough, I want to now win a gold medal,” a jubilant Borgohain, who hails from Assam, said after her bout.
However, first-timer Sachin Kumar (81kg) went down in a split decision to China’s national champion Daxaing Chen in his quarterfinal bout.
But he remains in the hunt for an Olympic berth if he can win the two-bout box-off between the losing quarter-finalists. The top five boxers in his category will get a spot in the Tokyo Games.
While Rani, Borgohain and Kumar secured their maiden Olympic spots, Krishan will be making his third successive appearance at the quadrennial showpiece, scheduled in July-August.
“I had never fought against this girl before today and honestly, I was a bit scared. I had told my coaches about it before the bout. They instilled confidence in me and I could pull off a one-sided result. I am happy,” said the 29-year-old Rani, who fought career-threatening shoulder and hand injuries before her gold at last year’s Asian Championships.
Rani will next face the reigning world and Asian champion Li Qian of China, who has the top billing in the 75kg category. Qian had no trouble beating Mongolia’s Myagmarjargal Munkhbat 5-0 in the opening bout of the day.
Taking full advantage of her longer reach, Rani outpunched the inexperienced Chutee.