Indian boxer Nishant Dev faced a heartbreaking end to his debut Olympic campaign in Paris, losing in the quarterfinals of the men’s 71kg category. Dev’s loss was particularly disappointing as he was just one win away from securing an Olympic medal for India.
This defeat was part of a tough day for the Indian contingent, with Manu Bhaker missing out on a historic third medal in shooting and archer Deepika Kumari being eliminated in the quarterfinals of the women’s individual event. Dev’s defeat came through a split verdict loss to Mexico’s Marco Verde Alvarez.
Despite starting strong, Nishant Dev, a 23-year-old world championship bronze medallist, seemed in control after winning the opening round convincingly. In the second round, he landed several powerful jab hooks on Alvarez, but the judges unexpectedly scored the round in favor of the Mexican, putting Alvarez ahead 3-2. This decision surprised many, as Dev appeared to dominate the early part of the bout.
Nishant Dev’s Olympic Dream Ends in Controversial Quarterfinal Loss
In the final round, Alvarez began aggressively with a combination of punches, while Dev, although able to evade some strikes, seemed exhausted as the match wore on. His attempts to fight back were slow, and Alvarez took advantage of this, ultimately securing the win.
Dev’s 1-4 loss in the quarterfinals, held at the North Paris Arena, sparked outrage among fans on social media, who accused the judges of denying India a guaranteed medal at the Olympics.
The scoring controversy also drew reactions from prominent figures in Indian boxing. 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Vijender Singh expressed his disbelief at the outcome. Singh took to social media, questioning the scoring system and praising Dev’s performance despite the loss, indicating that he believed the fight was much closer than the score suggested.
Nishant Dev’s exit from the Olympics is a significant disappointment for Indian sports fans, who were hopeful for a medal in boxing.
The reactions from both fans and sports personalities highlight the contentious nature of the judging in boxing, raising questions about the transparency and fairness of the scoring system. This incident underscores the emotional and controversial aspects of competitive sports, especially at an event as prestigious as the Olympics.
