All Indian boxers to have qualified for Tokyo 2020
Nine Indian boxers made the cut for Tokyo Olympics after booking their slots in the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers in Amman.
The Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan proved to be a very fruitful outing for the Indian boxers with nine of them - five men and four women - reaching the necessary rounds in various weight categories to become eligible for an appearance at Tokyo 2020.
Indian boxers in Tokyo Olympics
Mary Kom - Women's 51kg
The last time Mary Kom qualified for an Olympics at London 2012, she returned home with a bronze medal in the 51kg and the six-time flyweight world champion will hope her second coming in the Games at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics is fruitful too.
Coming into the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers after winning a highly publicised bout with younger compatriot Nikhat Zareen, the veteran Indian boxer was in her elements in her quarter-final match at Amman.
Mary Kom outplayed her Filipino rival Irish Magno over three rounds, coming out on top in a closely contested first round before landing multiple blows in the subsequent two to ensure her appearance at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Pooja Rani - Women's 75kg
The first among the women boxers to qualify for Tokyo 2020, Pooja Rani did so with a dominating victory, on Women’s Day no less, over Thai Pornnipa Chutee at the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers quarter-finals.
The gold medallist at the Asian championships in the light heavyweight category was not able to qualify for Rio 2016 but ensured that she did not miss out this time around.
Lovlina Borgohain - Women's 69kg
The Indian boxing contingent saw a second woman qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics in the welterweight category in the form of Lovlina Borgohain.
Lovlina's stocks rose after a quarter-final run at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where she lost to eventual welterweight gold medallist Sandy Ryan**.**
She went on to win bronze in both the 2018 and 2019 World Championships and booked her ticket to Tokyo with a unanimous win over Maftunakhon Melieva of Uzbekistan at the quarters of the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers.
Simranjit Kaur - Women's 60kg
The last Indian boxer among the women to book a place at the Tokyo Olympics is lightweight boxer Simranjit Kaur.
A silver medallist in the light welterweight categories at the 2019 Asian Championships, Simranjit took some time to get going in her quarter-final bout against Mongolian Namuun Monkhor**.**
However, once she settled into a rhythm she displayed good reflexes and fought intelligently to ensure that she will fly to Tokyo
Amit Panghal - Men's 52kg
The biggest hope to emerge among the Indian boxers in the past couple of years, Amit Panghal qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, his debut at the Games, after a comeback in his quarter-final match against Carlo Paalam of the Philippines.
The Asian Games gold medallist lost the first round at the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers but came back with some counter punches to earn the victory and with it, a ticket to Tokyo.
Amit Panghal has risen from strength to strength since winning the National Boxing Championship in 2017. Bronze at the 2017 Asian Championships was followed by a silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, golds at the 2018 Asian Games and 2019 Asian Championships and another silver at the 2019 World Championships.
Vikas Krishan - Men's 69kg
A third appearance at the Games beckoned for veteran Indian boxer Vikas Krishan, who made sure of his place at Tokyo Olympics with a quarter-final victory at the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers over Japan’s Quincy Okazawa.
The only other Indian boxer other than Beijing 2008 bronze medallist Vijender Singh to qualify for three Olympics, Vikas Krishan had to fight hard against Okazawa to earn his place.
A gold medallist at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Vikas Krishan, who had switched to professional boxing before deciding to make a comeback, went only as far as the quarter-finals at Rio 2016 and will be hoping to go at least one better at Tokyo.
Ashish Kumar - Men's 75kg
One of the most satisfying stories to come out of the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers has been that of Ashish Kumar, who qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to fulfil his late father’s dream.
The Indian boxer, who revealed that he lost his father a month before the qualifiers, channelled the grief into his gloves, overcoming the challenge of Indonesia’s Maikhel Muskita in the quarter-finals.
Satish Kumar - Men's 91kg
Satish Kumar became the first Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympics in the super heavyweight category after he confirmed his appearance at Tokyo 2020 with a convincing win over Otgonbayer Daivii in the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers quarter-finals.
The Arjuna Awardee was nimble in his approach and will be raring to add to a medal tally that includes bronze at the 2014 Asian Games.
Manish Kaushik - Men's 63kg
Manish Kaushik became the ninth and the last Indian boxer to qualify for Tokyo 2020 Olympics after he edged past second seed Harry Garside of Australia by a split decision in his box-off bout of the lightweight category at the Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers in Amman, Jordan.
The 2019 World Championship bronze medallist started the qualifiers on a strong note by beating Chinese Taipei’s Chu-En Lai. However, his momentum was halted by Mongolia’s Chinzorig Baatarsukh, who humbled Manish Kaushik in the quarter-finals.
However, Manish Kaushik got another chance at sealing the Tokyo Olympics berth through a playoff bout with fellow quarter-finalist Garside.