GUWAHATI: Indian boxers at the 2024 Paris Olympics have been handed challenging draws for their events starting on Saturday at the North Paris Arena. World champion Nikhat Zareen will face Germany's Maxi Klotzer in her opening bout in the women's 50kg category.
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A victory would set up a clash with China's Wu Yu, the top seed and reigning Asian Games and 52kg world champion. Zareen may encounter Thailand's Chuthamat Raksat, who defeated her in last year's Asian Games semi-final, in the quarter-final.
Assam’s Lovlina Borgohain, a bronze medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, also faces a tough path in the women's 75kg event. She will compete against Sunniva Hofstad of Norway in the first round, with a potential second-round match against top seed Li Qian of China, a double Olympic medallist who bested Borgohain in the Asian Games final.
In the women's 57kg category, Jasmine Lamboria will take on Tokyo Olympics silver medallist Nesthy Petecio of the Philippines in her first bout. Preeti Pawar, competing in the women's 54kg event, will face Vietnam's Vo Thi Kim Anh in the opening round, with a possible second-round bout against World Championship silver medallist Yeni Arias of Colombia.
In the men's division, veteran Amit Panghal will start his campaign in the men's 51kg event against Zambia's Patrick Chinyemba. A win would lead to a match against Asian Games silver medallist Thitisan Panmot of Thailand.
Among the Indian boxers, Nishant Dev appears to have a relatively favorable draw in the men's 71kg event. After receiving a bye in the first round, he will face Ecuador's Tenorio Rodriguez. A victory would advance him to the quarter-finals, where he might face Pan American Games champion Marco Verde of Mexico.