Amit Panghal misplaced to Colombian opponent 1-4 in his Olympics debut.
The top-seeded Indian, who was making his debut within the Games, had bought a gap spherical bye.
- PTI
- Last Updated:July 31, 2021, 08:35 IST
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Indian boxer Amit Panghal (52kg) bowed out of the Olympics with a shocking 1-4 loss to Rio Games silver-medallist Yuberjen Martinez, overwhelmed by the Colombian’s relentless assaults and tempo within the pre-quarterfinals right here on Saturday. The top-seeded Indian, who was making his debut within the Games, had bought an opening-round bye. Panghal was put beneath strain by the sprightly Colombian within the opening spherical itself however the Indian ensured that he related higher to assert the primary three minutes 4-1.
But Martinez’s tempo ought to have set alarm bells ringing within the Indian nook. The Pan-American champion upped the ante within the second spherical, working relentlessly on Panghal’s physique together with his uppercuts.
Panghal bought little respite from the onslaught and located it powerful to reply. Martinez’s persistence introduced him degree with the highest star. He made certain that there was no let up within the depth within the last three minutes and Panghal ended up being on the defensive.
Despite this loss, the 25-year-old Panghal stays one in every of best-performing Indian boxers in latest occasions, having secured a gold medal on the 2018 Asian Games, adopted by an unparalleled silver medal on the world championships in 2019. The diminutive Army man can also be a three-time Asian medallist, securing a medal each time he has been on the continental showpiece.
Martinez gained the sunshine flyweight silver medal within the 2016 Rio Olympics and can flip skilled after the Tokyo Games. His dad and mom, who comply with the pacifism-supporting Anglican church, have been towards him taking on the game however ultimately got here round to assist his ambitions.
On Friday, Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) turned the primary Indian boxer to safe a medal on the ongoing Games after advancing to the semifinals. She defeated former world champion Nien-Chin Chen of Chinese Taipei in her quarterfinal bout.
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