Amman (Jordan), Mar 9 (UNI) World Championships silver medallist Amit Panghal (52kg) defeated Carlo Paalam of Philippines 4-1 to secure the sixth quota for India at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by entering the semi-finals of the Asian Olympic Qualifiers, here on Monday.
Panghal, who was the lone bright spot for the Indian contingent in the first session, had earlier beaten his opponent in the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games and the quarter-finals of the 2019 World Championships as well.
The familiarity helped him stave off a late resistance from the Southeast Asian Games gold medallist and book his Olympic berth for the very first time.
'I had played my opponent twice and had beaten him as well. I came with a lot of confidence to get the win this time too. I executed whatever strategy my coaches had chalked out. I am glad that gave me the win as well as the Olympic quota,' said the Asian Games champion after his win.
'In the next round, I play a Chinese boxer whom I have beaten before at the Asian Championships. The aim is to repeat it and move into the final,' he added.
He will next take on China’s Hu Jianguan, a bronze medallist at the Rio Olympics as well as the 2019 Asian Championships.
Meanwhile,World Championships bronze medallist Manish Kaushik (63kg), went down 2-3 to third seed and Asian Games silver medallist Chinzorig Baatarsukh of Mongolia in a hard-fought quarter-final.
However, Kaushik can still fulfil his Olympic dream as with six boxers qualifying from 63kg, he will get once more chance with a box-off opportunity, where the losing quarterfinalist players will have yet another shot.
In his quest, Manish will face Harrison Garside of Australia in the box-off bout on 11th and a win there will secure his Olympic quota.
It was however, the end of the road in the Asian Qualifiers for former world youth champion Sakshi Chaudhary (57kg) who was blanked 0-5 by Korea's Im Aeji in the quarter-finals.
Later in the day, London Olympic bronze medallist Mary Kom (51kg) will aim for her second ticket to the mega quadrennial Games when she faces Irish Magno of Philippines.
On Sunday, Vikas Krishan (69kg), Pooja Rani (75kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg), Lovlina Borgohain (69kg) and Ashish Kumar (75kg) had become the first set of Indian boxers to qualify for quadrennial showpiece scheduled in July-August this year.
UNI AVK NC1829