Boxers Jamwal, Dev advance in Olympic qualifiers
BANGKOK, May 26: Indian boxers continued their dominant run on day three of the second World Boxing Qualifiers for Paris Olympics as Abhinash Jamwal (63.5kg) and Nishant Dev (71kg) comfortably won their bouts here on Sunday.Jamwal, who has replaced Olympian Shiva Thapa in the second qualifiers, was at his best against Andriejus Lavrenovas of Lithuania in his first-round bout.The Himachal Pradesh boxer was clinical with his punches in the opening round and dominated the ring further as his confidence sore higher to earn a unanimous 5-0 verdict from the judges.Later in the day, world championship bronze medallist Dev also secured a dominant 5-0 win over Armando Bighafa of Guinea-Bissau.Dev never looked under any kind of pressure as he controlled the bout from the very first minute and continued with his flurry of punches in the second round too to put the opponent completely on the back foot and get a unanimous verdict. On Monday, Ankushita Boro will start her 60kg campaign against Namuun Monkhor of Mongolia while Loura will face Kelyn Cassidy of Ireland in the 80kg round of 32.India has so far earned three Paris Olympic berths at the 2022 Asian Games. (PTI)
Indian women’s hockey team lose 0-3 to Argentina
ANTWERP, May 26: The Indian women’s hockey team continued its winless streak in the Belgium leg of the FIH Pro League, slumping to 0-3 defeat against Argentina here on Sunday.Celina Di Santo (1st minute), Maria Campoy (39th) and Maria Granatto (47th) scored for Argentina in India’s final match of the Belgium leg.Argentina stormed ahead in the very first minute, dissecting the Indian high press and penetrating to the shooting circle, where Di Santo deflected in Granatto’s shot to score their first goal. Argentina made a breakthrough in the 39th minute, as Campoy picked up the ball on the left wing and bulldozed into the circle, dodging a few challenges and slotting it past Savita Punia to double their lead. Argentina earned a penalty corner as soon as the final quarter began and Granatto directed Agustina Gorzelany’s flick over Savita into goal to increase their lead.The Indian women’s hockey team will now take on Germany in its next match at London on June 1. (PTI)
Srihari wins silver in swimming
NEW DELHI, May 26: Ace India swimmer Srihari Nataraj clinched a silver medal in the 50m backstroke event at the 30th Mare Nostrum swimming tour at the Canet-en-Roussillon, France.Nataraj, who competed a the Tokyo Olympics, clocked 25.50s to claim the second spot on the podium behind Hungary’s Adam Jaszo, who touched the pad at 25.46s while Scott Gibson of Great Britain finished third with a timing of 25.64s on Saturday.Nataraj’s personal best in the event is 25.11s.The 50m backstroke is a non-Olympic event. No Indian swimmer has made the cut for the Paris Games till now. (PTI)