Paris Olympics: After Spending Three Days in Hospital, Boxer Preeti Pawar Wins Her Opening Round Match by Unanimous Verdict

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In a remarkable display of resilience, Preeti Pawar advanced to the round of 16 in the women's boxing 54kg weight category at the Paris Olympics, securing a unanimous verdict victory (5:0) over Vo Thi Kim Anh of Vietnam on the evening of July 27.

This win comes just days after Preeti was hospitalised for three days in Germany due to a mysterious illness. Earlier this month, myKhel reported that Preeti had been struck by an illness that forced her to miss practice sessions with her team upon their arrival in Saarbrucken, Germany, for a pre-Olympics training camp.

Despite these setbacks, Preeti, a 21-year-old Asian Games bronze medalist from Haryana, rejoined her teammates earlier this week, raising questions about her fitness and ability to perform at her peak in Paris. Follow our elaborated Paris Olympics coverage

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) secretary general, Hemanta Kumar Kalita, had downplayed concerns over Preeti's condition, stating, "There are minor issues but not worrisome." However, an anonymous BFI official revealed that Preeti had limited time to recover fully and regain her prime fitness before the start of the Olympics.

The bout against Vo Thi Kim Anh began with the Vietnamese boxer taking the first round by a split verdict of 3:2. Despite this early setback, Preeti showcased her determination and skill in the subsequent rounds.

In the second round, she dominated the ring, landing precise punches and controlling the pace of the fight. Her aggressive approach turned the tide in her favour, making her the favourite to win the bout after the second round.

In the final round, Preeti maintained her momentum, outboxing her opponent with superior technique and relentless pressure. At the end of the bout, all five judges scored in her favour, declaring her the winner by a unanimous verdict.

Preeti's victory propels her into the round of 16, where she will face a tough challenge against the second seed, Yeni Arias, a World Boxing Championship silver medalist. This highly anticipated bout is scheduled for the evening of July 30.