Paris: Preeti Pawar of India easily won a first-round fight to go to the pre-quarterfinals of the women’s 54kg boxing division. In Round 32 at North Paris Arena, the 20-year-old southpaw from Bhiwani, Haryana, defeated Vo Thi Kim Anh of Vietnam 5-0. The second-seeded Yeni Arias of Colombia will face her next.
Throughout Saturday’s fight, Preeti prevented her opponent from settling in and building a rhythm. The Indian fighter initially had some issues but later rallied magnificently and won the first round.
At the age of fourteen, Preeti’s uncle Vinod, a national-level medallist boxer, introduced her to the sport. Despite initial challenges, Preeti’s determination and her uncle’s persuasion led her father, an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in the Haryana Police, to allow her to pursue boxing.
Preeti’s family, especially her uncle Vinod, played a crucial role in her boxing career. Their unwavering support and belief in her abilities have been a driving force in her success.
Preeti began a little later than others, but in just six years, she has gone from the domestic to the international circuit. Last year, she won a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and made her debut as a national representative in a world championship. Her journey to the Olympics was not easy, involving rigorous training sessions, strict diet plans, and mental preparation. She is now aiming to achieve her goal of competing in the Olympics and taking home a medal.
–IANS
