Amit Panghal, Jaismine Lamboria Face Early Exits at Paris Olympics

Amit Panghal's journey at the Paris Olympics ended similarly to his Tokyo Games experience, as the seasoned boxer exited in the pre-quarterfinals. Debutant Jaismine Lamboria also faced elimination on Tuesday. The 28-year-old Panghal lost by a surprising 1-4 split decision to Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba in the 51kg Round of 16 bout. This was an opponent he had previously defeated en route to his Commonwealth Games title in 2022.

Jaismine Lamboria's Olympic Debut

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Lamboria's first Olympic campaign also ended in disappointment. She lost by a 0-5 unanimous decision to Tokyo silver medallist Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines in the 57kg Round of 32 bout. Despite her height advantage, Lamboria struggled to connect her punches as Petecio, a former world champion, moved around the ring effectively and dodged her attacks while landing punches.

Panghal, who had qualified for the ongoing Games in the last qualifier, received an opening round bye, similar to his Tokyo Olympics experience. The 2019 world championship silver medallist faced immediate pressure from Chinyemba, the reigning African Games champion, right from the opening round. Panghal's defensive strategy backfired as Chinyemba took on an aggressive role.

Panghal's Struggles

Panghal found it challenging to counter-attack and struggled with his footwork throughout the bout. He appeared a shadow of his usual sharp self during this underwhelming performance. Trailing on three cards, Panghal attempted to attack from the start but had difficulty landing punches as Chinyemba continued to dominate in the second round.

Both boxers engaged in significant exchanges, with Panghal trying to apply pressure in the final three minutes. However, Chinyemba maintained his intensity and secured the win. Panghal had been away from the national team since his Tokyo exit and was selected for the final Olympic qualifying event after Deepak Bhoria failed to earn a quota in previous qualifiers.

Expectations and Reality

Given a favourable draw, the former Asian Games champion was anticipated to reach the medal round. However, he could not meet these expectations. Lamboria, who dropped from her original 60kg weight class to reclaim India's 57kg quota after Parveen Hooda's suspension for a whereabouts failure last month, never looked comfortable in her bout.

Despite her considerable height advantage, Lamboria was too slow for the 57kg weight class and couldn't connect most of her punches. The Filipina expertly ducked her attacks and peppered her with punches throughout the match.

Panghal's defensive approach cost him dearly as Chinyemba assumed control early on. The Indian boxer struggled to respond to Chinyemba's persistence and failed to counter-attack effectively. This loss mirrored his Tokyo Games exit, marking another disappointing Olympic campaign for Panghal.

Lamboria's maiden Olympic journey ended without much success against a seasoned opponent like Petecio. Her inability to adapt quickly to the lower weight class and connect punches effectively highlighted areas needing improvement for future competitions.

Both Indian boxers' exits underscore the challenges they faced at this level of competition. Their performances reflect their current form and areas requiring focus for future international events.