Preeti exits Asian Games women’s 54kg event after loss to Pang Chol-mi

Commonwealth Games 2026 champion Preeti was eliminated from the Asian Games women's 54kg event after losing 0-5 to North Korea's two-time world champion Pang Chol-mi. Earlier, India's Sachin advanced to the quarterfinals with a 4-1 win over Jordan's Mohammad Abu Jajeh

Nishio: Commonwealth Games 2026 champion Preeti on Friday lost to two-time world champion Pang Chol-mi of North Korea in the women’s 54kg round of 16 at the Nishio Gymnasium here.

The Indian pugilist was outdone by a superb performance from Chol-mi, who won the bout by a unanimous 5-0 decision against the Indian, a bronze medallist at the Hangzhou Asian Games.

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Preeti came into the bout after receiving a bye in the first round, while the North Korean fighter had defeated Indonesia’s Nabila Maharani in her round-of-32 clash.

Chol-mi dominated the contest against the Indian pugilist right from the first round and did not let her get into her own terms. The North Korean won the first round unanimously and maintained her dominance in the second, with another 5-0 ruling in her favour.

The Indian pugilist tried to stage a comeback in the final round, but the North Korean was too superior to handle as she took her time to land punches and kept troubling Preeti. In the end, Chol-mi won the third round 5-0 as well to claim a unanimous victory.

Earlier, India’s Sachin made it to the quarterfinals after beating former Asian champion and World Championships bronze medallist Mohammad Abu Jajeh of Jordan in the round of 16 with a split 4-1 decision.

Sachin, who had won the Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medal, received two 30-27 cards and two 29-28 cards, while one judge scored the bout 28-29 in favour of his opponent.

He won the first round by a close 3-2 margin after the bout began slowly. The Indian pugilist landed his punches more precisely in the second round and won it 4-1 before the Jordanian boxer looked desperate in the third round but could not land his punches effectively.

Sachin took the third round 4-1 and won the bout by the same margin.

Sachin will now be up against World Championships bronze medallist Shunsuke Kitamoto in the quarterfinals as he looks for his maiden Asiad medal.

–IANS
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