Paris Olympics 2024: Amit Panghal's Olympic journey ends with first-round defeat to Patrick Chinyemba of Zambia

Another first-round exit for Amit Panghal at the Olympics.

In a disappointing turn of events for Indian boxing, Amit Panghal, the 2022 Commonwealth Games champion, was eliminated from the Paris Olympics 2024 in the opening round itself. Panghal lost to Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba via a 1-4 decision during the men’s 51kg category round of 16 match at Arena Paris Nord.

The bout was a reversal of fortunes for Panghal, who had previously defeated Chinyemba 5-0 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. This time, however, the Indian boxer struggled to find his rhythm against a determined opponent.

From the opening bell, Panghal adopted a defensive strategy that ultimately proved costly. The first round ended with a split decision in Chinyemba’s favor, with judges scoring it 3-2. While Panghal’s defense was solid, Chinyemba’s higher work rate impressed the judges.

In the second round, Panghal showed signs of improvement, landing some good left hooks and taking calculated risks. However, Chinyemba effectively used his height and speed advantage to maintain control. This round also went to the Zambian boxer with a 3-2 split decision, putting Panghal in a challenging position.

Entering the final round, Panghal needed a strong performance to turn the tide. He came out aggressively, attempting to close the distance and land significant punches. Despite landing a few solid shots, Panghal couldn’t overcome Chinyemba’s footwork and evasive skills. The Zambian boxer secured a unanimous 5-0 decision in the final round, sealing his victory.

Also Read: India at Paris Olympics 2024: Boxing schedule, squad, live streaming details

The final scorecard read 4-1 in favor of Chinyemba, marking another underwhelming Olympic performance for Panghal. This loss follows his early exit in the previous Olympics, raising questions about his ability to perform on the biggest stage in sports.

With Panghal’s elimination, India’s hopes in men’s boxing now rest on Nishant Dev, the lone remaining Indian male boxer in the competition. Dev is scheduled to begin his Olympic campaign on August 1, 2024.

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