World Olympic boxing qualifier | Nine Indians will try to book their tickets to Paris

Nine Indian boxers aim to secure quota places for Paris Olympics in World Olympic boxing qualifier-1 in Italy.

Nine Indian boxers will try to earn as many quota places as possible in the first World Olympic boxing qualification tournament, starting at the E-work Arena in Busto Arsizio, Italy, on Sunday.

The Indians trained in a multi-nation camp, including boxers from Ukraine, Tajikistan, Japan, Greece and Hungary, for 10 days in Montenegro before shifting to Busto Arsizio.

World championships bronze medallists Deepak Bhoria (51kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (57kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) and former Worlds and multiple Asian medallist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg) will be among the leading names who are capable of securing slots in the Paris Olympics.

While Bhoria and Nishant will try to overcome their disappointing performances in the Asian Games and underline their potential, Hussamuddin, who is coming back after his knee surgery, will be keen to prove himself. Thapa will be hungry to make it to his third Olympics.

National champions Lakshya Chahar (80kg) and Sanjeet (92kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (+92kg) can also fancy their chances.

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria (60kg) and former World youth champion Ankushita Boro (66kg) will try to win quota places and complete a full women’s squad to Paris.

Four Indian women – Nikaht Zareen (50kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (57kg) and Lovelina Borgohain (75kg) – have already bagged the Paris Olympics quota places through the Hangzhou Asian Games last year.