Nishant Dev becomes first Indian male boxer to book Paris 2024 quota with semifinal entry in Boxing Olympic qualifiers

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### Nishant Dev Secures Olympic Quota at Boxing Qualifiers in Bangkok

Bangkok, May 31: Nishant Dev (71kg) on Friday (May 31) became the first Indian male boxer to secure a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. His impressive performance at the ongoing Boxing Olympic qualifiers, held in Bangkok, saw him reach the semifinals and clinch the coveted Olympic berth.

The world championships bronze medalist achieved this milestone by defeating Vasile Cebotari of Moldova with a decisive 5-0 victory in the quarterfinals, in what was a clash of the southpaws.

How Many Indian Boxers Have Qualified for Paris 2024 So Far?

This victory marks India's fourth quota place for the Paris Olympics, with women boxers Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preet Pawar (54kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) having already secured their spots. The 71kg weight class offered five quota places, and Dev's consistent dominance throughout the tournament ensured his qualification.

How Nishant Dev secured Paris Olympic quota

Dev began the quarterfinal bout with a flurry of sharp, accurate punches, demonstrating composure and strategic precision. Despite a brief moment in the second round where Cebotari landed a couple of blows and Dev appeared slightly winded, the Indian pugilist maintained his accuracy.

In the final round, both boxers were visibly exhausted, but Dev continued to land effective punches. Cebotari's frustration culminated in a point deduction for hitting Dev while he was down on the canvas, sealing Dev's victory.

Ankushita Boro loses her quarterfinal bout

Earlier, India's attempt to secure a quota in the women's 60kg category ended when Ankushita Boro was narrowly defeated 2-3 by Sweden's Agnes Alexiusson in the quarterfinals. The 23-year-old Boro fought valiantly, but Alexiusson, a former European Games bronze medalist, leveraged her experience to edge out the win.

Boro, a former youth world champion, started slow but adapted quickly, using straight jabs to earn the favour of one judge in the first round. Trailing 1-4, Boro came out strong in the second round, with effective combinations of left jabs and right crosses, levelling the fight. However, Alexiusson finished the bout stronger, claiming the split decision victory.

Later in the day, Indian boxers Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) and Amit Panghal (51kg) will also be in action, continuing India's quest for additional Olympic berths.