Lovlina Borgohain’s bronze medal in the 69kg category at the Tokyo Olympics ended a medal drought from the previous two Games, but India’s boxing performance in Paris 2024 left much to be desired. The campaign faltered during the qualification phase itself. Despite securing four women’s quota places in the Asian Games, India failed to achieve a single slot in the first World Olympic qualifying event in Busto Arsizio. This setback, coupled with the departure of Irish high-performance director Bernard Dunne, cast a shadow over the team’s preparation. However, the remaining coaching staff, including foreign coach Dmitri Dmitruk, adjusted the training method, focusing on individual development and longer training sessions. These changes helped India secure three more quota places, including reclaiming the 57kg spot, in the second World qualifier in Bangkok. The BFI, with the support of the Sports Authority of India (SAI), provided comprehensive assistance, including a psychologist, a chef to cater to the boxers’ dietary needs, and international training camps. Despite these efforts, the team’s performance in Paris fell short of expectations. Two boxers, Nishant Dev (71kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), lost in the quarterfinals, missing out on a medal by a narrow margin. Four other boxers, including World champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg), were eliminated earlier in the competition. Nishant Dev, despite having a favorable draw, lost to Mexico’s Marco Verde 4-1 after winning the first round. The decision sparked controversy, with many fans questioning its fairness. However, Nishant’s performance was hampered by his inability to deliver powerful punches and maintain his defensive strategy, particularly in the third round. His declining endurance also contributed to his defeat. Lovlina, who was dealing with a back injury, put up a strong fight against Asian Games champion Li Qian but could have benefited from more effective long-range boxing and utilizing her right hand. Nikhat Zareen, facing a tougher draw due to the lack of seeding, lost to another Asian Games champion, Wu Yu, in the pre-quarterfinals. Wu’s superior execution of her game plan ultimately halted Nikhat’s progress. Former world no. 1 Amit Panghal, despite overcoming a tough challenge from Zambian boxer Patrick Chinyemba in the Commonwealth Games semifinals, was unable to match Chinyemba’s tactical boxing and clean punches in the Paris Olympics last 16 stage. Preeti Pawar, who had been hospitalized during the training camp in Germany, recovered in time to give her best before being defeated 3-2 in a close contest against Colombia’s Yeni Castaneda in the pre-quarterfinals. Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) faced a tough opponent in Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio and was unable to make a significant impact in the opening round. Following the team’s disappointing performance, former Commonwealth Games champion Akhil Kumar called for a thorough analysis of the boxers’ performance, questioning the effectiveness of the coaching strategies. He expressed concerns about the lack of power in the punches, despite the presence of strength and conditioning personnel. Akhil also voiced his opinion on the reliance on foreign coaches, advocating for greater faith in homegrown talent. The BFI must take decisive steps to course-correct and ensure that Indian boxers realize their full potential on the world stage. While the inclusion of boxing in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics remains uncertain, the preparations cannot be neglected. The focus going forward should be on developing a training method that aligns with the Indian boxers’ mentality and style of play, identifying and nurturing future talent, and establishing a sound domestic structure free from regional bias. As Akhil Kumar aptly quoted the famous Hindi poet Neeraj, urging the boxers to rise above the disappointment and strive for a brighter future: “Kucch sapno ke mar jaane se jivan mara nahi karta hai” (Life does not end just because some dreams die).”
India’s Boxing Performance at Paris 2024: A Disappointing Display Raises Concerns
