Paris Olympics 2024 Boxing: Preeti Pawar fights hard but loses to Yeni Arias in Round of 16

A heartbreak for Indian boxer Preeti Pawar as she bows out of the Paris Olympics 2024 after a Round of 16 exit in women’s 54kg Bantamweight. In a closely contested encounter with Colombia’s Yeni Arias, Preeti lost by a split verdict 3:2, bringing an end to her Paris 2024 journey.

The match began with Preeti adopting a cautious and defensive approach to counter Yeni's aggressive start. Preeti's strategy was evident from the outset as she expertly absorbed her opponent's punches while biding her time to strike back.

The 20-year-old Preeti Pawar gave a tough fight to the experienced Colombian but couldn’t match her pace. Yeni Arias started quickly and strongly in the first round, throwing early punches. Preeti managed to block off some, but it wasn’t enough to convince the judges, as they ruled Round 1 in favor of Arias 4:1.

However, the second round saw Preeti pull off a great comeback. Preeti's strategy began to pay dividends. She continued her solid defensive work while seizing opportunities to counter-attack. This tactical shift resulted in a closer contest, with the judges awarding a narrow 3:2 split verdict in favor of Preeti.

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Yeni Arias pulls off a victory in the final round over Preeti Pawar

It was all down to the third and the final round. Preeti looked tired and worn down but Yeni Arias was continuing her aggressive style of play. Thus, the Colombian managed to put pressure on Preeti and ensure that she gave judges no room to favor Preeti. The round ultimately saw the judges ruling 5:0 in Yeni’s favor.

The match thus ended with three judges ruling in favor of the Colombian Yeni Arias and two for Indian Preeti Pawar. Yeni has now qualified for the quarter-finals, whereas Preeti will be disappointed to exit the Paris Olympics 2024.