India At Asian Games: Asian Games: Indian boxer Preeti Pawar secures Paris Olympics quota and semi-final berth | Asian Games 2023 News
Preeti confronted a formidable opponent in Kazakhstan’s Zhaina Shekerbekova, a three-time World Championship medallist and reigning Asian champion. Regardless of the percentages stacked towards her, Preeti displayed unwavering braveness and grit, finally clinching a hard-fought victory with a rating of 4-1 within the fiercely-contested quarterfinal bout.
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The younger Indian boxer got here out swinging, taking the offensive stance from the very starting. Nonetheless, she needed to climate quite a few challenges as her extra skilled rival, Shekerbekova, broke by way of her defences a number of instances. Undaunted by the setbacks, Preeti maintained her relentless assault, securing a slim 3-2 lead within the first spherical.
In her strategic method to the bout, Preeti shifted ways initially of the second spherical, transferring away from the centre of the ring and utilising a long-range jab to maintain her opponent at bay. As the ultimate three minutes ticked away, each boxers exchanged a flurry of punches, though accuracy eluded them. Fatigue started to take its toll on Shekerbekova, whereas Preeti continued to dominate with well-placed photographs, finally securing the win.
This victory not solely ensures Preeti Pawar a spot within the semifinals of the ladies’s 54kg class on the Asian Video games but additionally secures her a quota for the Paris Olympics, marking a major achievement in her budding profession.
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This achievement follows carefully on the heels of Nikhat Zareen, who turned the primary Indian boxer to safe an Olympic quota, additional highlighting India’s rising prowess on the planet of boxing.
Within the girls’s boxing occasions on the Asian Video games, semifinalists within the 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, and 60kg classes will safe berths for the Paris Olympics, whereas the finalists within the 66kg and 75kg classes may also earn Olympic quotas. Moreover, the gold and silver medallists in every of the seven weight divisions within the males’s boxing occasion will obtain coveted Olympic quotas.
(With inputs from PTI)
