India’s hopes of a medal at the World Boxing Championships suffered a blow early on as both Amit Panghal and Jaismine Lamboria faced disappointing exits in their respective bouts. Panghal, a former world silver medalist and Commonwealth Games champion, was unable to overcome Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba in a closely contested men’s 51kg round of 16 bout at the North Paris Arena on Tuesday. The experienced Indian, competing in his second Olympics, was defeated 4-1 by the two-time African champion.
Meanwhile, Jaismine Lamboria’s Olympic debut was cut short as she was outmaneuvered by Tokyo Olympic silver medalist Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines in a women’s 57kg round of 32 match. The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, known for her lanky frame, struggled to land powerful or precise punches against the stocky and short Nesthy, who unleashed well-directed and powerful shots to claim a 5-0 victory.
Panghal, who had previously defeated Chinyemba in the Commonwealth Games semifinals, found the taller Zambian to be a formidable opponent this time around. Chinyemba utilized his long reach to land punches, while Panghal, fighting as a southpaw, attempted to close the distance and land shots in the opening round. Chinyemba’s superior reach gave him the edge in the first round, winning it 3-2.
Panghal sought to increase the volume of his punches in the second round, but Chinyemba’s agile footwork and skillful ringcraft proved effective in thwarting his plan. The Zambian unleashed quick combinations, including body shots, to maintain a 2-1 lead before the final round. As Panghal, who had lost his gum shield in the last two rounds, desperately tried to catch up, Chinyemba’s confidence grew. He danced around the ring, exchanging blows with Panghal in a series of fine exchanges, ultimately securing the victory.
