1 month ago
10
The Asian Games bronze medallist, who is making her maiden appearance at the Olympic Games, got India off to a winning start in boxing by securing a unanimous 5-0 verdict against Kim Anh. read more
 "Olympic debutant Preeti Pawar advances to Round of 16 after defeating Vo Thi Kim Anh")
India's Preeti, left, reacts after defeating Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Anh in their women's 54 kg preliminary boxing match at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 27, 2024, in Paris, France. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Boxer Preeti Pawar was off to a winning start on Day 1 of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Saturday, defeating Vietnam’s Vo Thi Kim Anh to advance to the women’s 54kg Round of 16.
The Asian Games bronze medallist, who is making her maiden appearance at the Olympic Games, got India off to a winning start in boxing by securing a unanimous 5-0 verdict against Kim Anh.
Paris Olympics: News, schedule, medals tally and more
The 20-year-old from Haryana was unimpressive in the first round as her Vietnamese opponent dictated the proceedings. But the Indian made amends in the next two rounds, attacking and landing clear blows on her opponent.
— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) July 27, 2024“When I went into the ring I was only thinking about what I needed to do. In the first round I wanted to check her range and make her fight in my range, but I ended up losing the first round by split decision.
“But I changed my strategy. I needed to pressure her more and in the second and third rounds I forced her to make backward steps and I went forward a lot more,” Preeti said after her bout.
As It Happened | Paris Olympics 2024 Day 1
Preeti will face second seed and world championships silver-medallist Marcela Yeni Arias of Colombia in her pre-quarter-final clash on Tuesday.
A couple of more victories will result in a medal on Olympic debut for Preeti as a semi-final appearance is enough for an athlete to finish on the podium in boxing.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen is the next Indian boxer in action, facing Germany’s Maxi Carina Kloetzer in the Round of 32 on Sunday.
With PTI and Reuters inputs
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
English (US) ·