After beating Algeria’s Ichrak Chaib in her opening bout, Indian boxer Pooja Rani will now take on China’s Qian Li in the women’s middleweight category (69-75kg) quarter-final at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Saturday, July 31.
Pooja Rani, competing in her first-ever Olympic Games, put on a dominant display against Chaib to win the bout 5-0. A two-time Asian champion, Pooja’s experience was evident as the Algerian looked out of her depth. The Indian pugilist played smart by keeping her distance in the opening round before throwing a barrage of punches later on.
This unsettled the Algerian as she failed to connect her punches and Pooja was on hand in making most of the opportunity.
In Qian Li though, Pooja faces tough competition. The 31-year-old boxer from China is an Olympic bronze medalist and has won two gold medals at the Asian Championships as well. Furthermore, in 2018, she won gold in the middleweight category at the World Championships.
However, going by Pooja’s current form, one can expect this to be a tight contest. The Indian pugilist won the Asian Boxing Championship gold in May this year and also defeated world champion Atheyna Bylon at the Boxam International Tournament, where she won silver.
Lovlina Borgohain has already confirmed India’s first medal in Boxing at Tokyo 2020 as she stormed her way into the semi-final, beating Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei. A win for Pooja Rani on Saturday would make it two medals for India’s pugilists at Tokyo.
Where to watch Pooja Rani’s quarter-final bout at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics live in India?
Pooja Rani’s quarter-final bout against Qian Li in women’s middleweight category (69-75kg) at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be telecast on Sony Sports Network channels in India. She will be in action at 3:36 PM IST on Saturday, July 31.
Live streaming of boxing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be available on the Sony Liv app and website.
Live broadcast subject to Sony Sports Network.
Featured photo: Twitter / Pooja Rani
