Indian boxers at Tokyo: Listless show by Amit Panghal, Pooja Rani

Amit did start confidently. He launched a few good shots but could not continue with that aggression.

Hyderabad: Amit Panghal was one of India’s biggest hopes but he was outclassed by Colombia’s Yuberjen Martinez in the men’s 52kg weight category in the Tokyo Olympics on Saturday. Amit lost 1-4. Later in the evening Pooja Rani went down tamely (0-5) to China’s Li Qian in the women’s 75kg category. It was a listless show by both the Indian pugilists.

Amit did start confidently. He launched a few good shots but could not continue with that aggression. The Colombia pugilist, the Rio Games silver medallist, came out of the blocks soon. I was impressed with his style. He was fast and had a tight technique. He fought like a professional boxer and kept Amit at a distance to dominate the bout.

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If the first game was even-steven, the second and third rounds totally belonged to the Colombian boxer. Amit’s game plan went topsy-turvy. Martinez grew in confidence and landed a few lusty blows on the helpless Amit. He virtually took the game away from the Indian. Amit tried to salvage some points in the fag-end of the third round but it was too late as Martinez was cruised home comfortably in the end.

Fast, sharp and skillful Li Qian was a clean winner over Pooja, who was outpunched by the Chinese. Pooja looked clueless and was outboxed by the superior Li Qian. Pooja failed to rise to the occasion and threw in the towel in the first round itself.

(Right Punch: V Devarajan is a former boxer, participated in 1992 Barcelona Games)