Indian boxer Nishant Dev's coach Surinder Kumar accepted his defeat in the ongoing Paris Olympics 2024 amid cheating controversy in his quarterfinal bout against Mexico's Marco Verde Alvarez on Saturday, August 3. After taking the lead in the first round, the 23-year-old Indian pugilist lost 1-4 to his second-seed Mexican opponent in the quarterfinal at the North Paris Arena.
Soon after the World Championship bronze medallist lost in the quarters, the boxing fraternity started reaching on the decisions of judges by saying that Nishant had been cheated. However, his coach Surinder Kumar thinks something else.
In the exclusive conversation with Sports Tak, Nishant's coach said that he accepted the defeat. While asked about why he didn't protest against the decision, Surinder said that ‘ Jo jeeta wahi Sikandar’.
No, I didn't think about the protest. I accepted it. The one who wins is the one who learns. It was a tough boxer. The Mexican boxer was tough. But it wasn't that much. It's okay" said Surinder Kumar.
However, Nishant had defeated Alvarez in the 2021 World Championships.
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Nishant was off to a flyer as Alvarez struggled to match his pace. He used his straight jabs to great effect, landing them square on the Mexican's face as well as the body to tire his opponent.
When asked about the Indian boxing contingent, he said that Lovlina Borgohain would be the dark horse for India. She will surely clinch a medal in the Paris Olympics.
"Lovlina Borgohain will do our boxing. All our boxers were good, all the teams we have made, all of our boxers were good. Unfortunately, the result is something else. You saw in Nishant's bout, Amit Pangal's bout. He played very well. Yes, with everyone. Boxers are good" added Surinder.
Lovlina Borgohain will be seen in action against China's Li Qian in the women’s 75kg quarterfinals on August 4.
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