Asian Games selections were biased, made to feel unworthy in national camp, claims Panghal
Veteran boxer Sarita Devi, who is currently serving a provisional suspension, has found support from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar who has written a letter to the Sports Minister urging him to support her and ensure that her career is not terminated prematurely.
Satish Kumar (+91kg) put up a gutsy performance against reigning World champion Bakhodir Jalolov but it was not enough to upstage the rampaging Uzbek and the Indian boxer made a quarter-final exit from the Olympic Games on Sunday.
The continuing administrative logjam worsened into a full-fledged factional tug-of-war while Indian boxing's poster boy, Vijender Singh, found himself at the center of a devastating drug scandal in what was a thoroughly tumultuous year for the country's pugilists.
Sagar Ahlawat continued India's medal rush in boxing, joining Amit Panghal and Jasmine in the semi-finals with a dominating win over Seychelles' Keddy Evans Agnes in men's +92kg competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham on Thursday.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Sunday
The referee, after one minute and nine seconds in the fifth round, declared the Russian winner as the eight-round game ended in a knockout.
The selection of the Indian team for the World Boxing Championships has run into a controversy with three pugilists, including Arjuna awardee Dinesh Kumar, threatening to take the panel to court even as Olympian Akhil Kumar vowed to sue one of them for dragging his name into the furore.
Commonwealth Games silver-medallist L Devendro Singh (52kg) advanced to the final along with the young Ankush Dahiya (60kg) on another mixed day for Indian boxers at the Ulaanbaatar Cup in Mongolia on Saturday.
Sakshi had prevailed 3-2 in the regulation bout but the decision was challenged by the Kazakh team and eventually overturned; Mary Kom marches into final.
Just one win away from winning an Olympic medal after a comprehensive victory over his opponent in his pre-quarterfinal bout, Indian boxer Vikas Krishan says he wants nothing less than a gold in the Rio Games.
Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal and national champion Sachin entered the semifinals of the 75th Strandja Memorial boxing event in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The Indian women boxing team won two silver and three bronze medals at the Ahmet Comert Cup Boxing Tournament.
'CWG was not that important to me as my main target is Paris'
Tennis duo Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi will have added responsibility to return with an Olympic medal from Beijing, especially after the Indian Olympic Association accommodated extra support staff for them, a favour that eluded boxer Akhil Kumar.
'It is gruelling but I am enjoying the grind. My body hasn't felt better'
Asian Games bronze-medallist Satish Kumar (+91kg) and Sumit Sangwan (81kg) notched up facile wins to enter the second round of the International Boxing Association's World Olympic Qualification tournament in Baku.
Vinesh has now appealed to the CAS, the apex body to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration, who will return with a verdict tomorrow
The upcoming Games will be held from July 26 to August 11 and India would be hoping to better its best ever tally of seven medals, including Chopra's historic javelin throw gold at the Tokyo Games.
Shiva, a World Championships bronze-medallist and a two-time medallist at the Asian meet, edged past Kyrgyzstan's Omurbek Malabekov in a split verdict to make the last-eight stage, where he will face Chinese Taipei's Chu-En Lai in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Indian women boxers made a resounding start at the third Indoor Asian Games with L Sarita Devi (54kg) and N Usha (57kg) advancing to the medal rounds of the event with thumping wins in their respective quarterfinal bouts in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Saturday.
Beijing Olympics quarter-finalist Jitender Kumar and former women's world champion Lekha K C are among the three pugilists recommended by the Indian Boxing Federation for this year's Arjuna awards.
Check out how India's athletes fared on Day 6, Thursday, August 1, 2024:
The 25-year-old boxer from Telangana thrashed Thailand's Jitpong Jutamas without breaking a sweat in the 52kg final with the judges scoring the bout 30-27, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 in Nikhat's favour.
Six-time World Champion Mary Kom, bronze medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, will be assisted by luger Shiva Keshavan, who has been appointed the deputy chef de mission.
'I dedicate this medal to my country for praying for me, for supporting me. My coaches, federation, my sponsors, they have also helped me a lot.
'...it is a good thing for youngsters in both countries who are pursuing our sport to follow us and follow their sports icons and bring laurels to their countries.'
India's Manoj Kumar bowed out of the Olympic Games in controversial manner after he went down to Great Britain's George Stalker in men's light welterweight (64) kg category.
Indian pugilist Manoj Kumar made it to the last 16 in the men's Light-welter (64kg) division at the London Games, beating Serdar Hudayberdiyev (Turkmenistan) late on Tuesday night. The Haryana boxer won 13-7. He will meet world No 1 and third seed Tom Stalker of Great Britain next.
A summary of sports events and sports persons, who made news on Saturday
Inspired by Mike Tyson and Mohammad Ali, eight Indian junior boxers made quite an impression in their maiden international assignment, clinching a couple of gold, a silver and a bronze medal at the 25th Ahmed Comert Cup in Istanbul, Turkey.
Bhagwan has been on unpaid leave for the last three years to train Nitu, a two-time World Youth champion.
Check out how India's athletes fared on Day 8, Saturday, August 3, 2024:
The IABF disciplinary committee found the three who tested positive at the National Games "prima facie guilty".
Having modelled the aggressive style of former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson to claim an Olympic berth, Indian boxer Devendro Singh knows curbing those attacking instincts is the only way to achieve his dream of a medal at the London Games.
Jeswin Aldrin, who had already qualified for the championships, however missed the cut.
The Indian franchise in the World Series of Boxing (WSB) is struggling to rope in pugilists employed with the Indian Army as the department is refusing to give them permission to compete in the professional-style event.
Ace Indian boxer Shiva Thapa began his Commonwealth Games campaign on a rousing note by defeating Pakistan's Suleman Baloch in the first round of the 63.5kg category, in Birmingham, on Friday.
Borgohain (69kg) signed off with a bronze medal in the Olympic Games after a comprehensive 0-5 loss to reigning world champion Busenaz Surmeneli.
A look at the few bright spots, the many worries, and moments that made for a distinctly indelible 2020.
