Indian boxer Nishant Dev’s journey at the Paris 2024 Olympics came to an end in the men’s 71kg quarterfinals on Saturday. He fell to Mexico’s Marco Verde in a close split decision, ending his hopes of a medal.
Nishant started strong, outpointing Verde in the first round. However, Verde rallied in the next two rounds, ultimately taking control of the bout. The judges’ scores favored Verde, marking the end of Nishant’s Olympic campaign.
Prior to the quarterfinals, Nishant had displayed impressive form. He secured his quarterfinal berth by defeating seventh-seeded Jose Gabriel of Ecuador 3-2 in the round of 16, showcasing his strength and resilience.
The 23-year-old Nishant boasts a strong track record, including a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. His remarkable performance in that tournament included a dominant 5-0 victory over Cuba’s Jorge Cuellar in the quarterfinals.
Nishant first burst onto the international scene in 2021 when he reached the quarterfinals of the Elite World Boxing Championship in his debut tournament. Despite his setback in Paris, Nishant’s talent and potential remain evident, promising exciting prospects for the future of Indian boxing.
