The two-time Asian champion was in command with her right straights and also benefitted immensely from Chaib’s lack of balance in the ring.
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Indian boxer Pooja Rani stormed into the quarter-finals of the women’s middleweight event after a dominating victory over Algeria’s Ichrak Chaib on Wednesday at the Tokyo Olympics. Rani never looked in doubt throughout the entire match as she won by a comprehensive scoreline of 5-0. She is now just one victory away from sealing an Olympic medal for India. If this performance is anything to go by, she might well be the one to win India’s second medal at The Games this year. Rani looked composed and sure-footed, and hardly made any kind of a mistake. Chaib did not really have a chance once Rani got into her groove.
This is Rani’s first-ever Olympics at 30. The two-time Asian champion set the rhythm of the match from the first second. Her powerful right straights rocked Chaib and put her off balance, with Rani taking full advantage of that. It might be her first Olympics but Rani is an immensely experienced athlete who has won crucial matches in high-pressure situations before. Her opponent was 10 years younger, and it was Rani’s experience that ultimately was the difference between the two.
Chaib was the one who took charge at the beginning as she came out swinging. Rani, on the other hand, remained calm and took advantage of almost every opening. She kept her distance from the Algerian, thus preventing her from landing a clean blow. Rani almost entirely played on the counter-attack as Chaib failed to connect with several swings. Her impeccable footwork throughout the bout was a thing of beauty and it was something her opponent did not seem to find an answer for.
Rani became the second Indian boxer to qualify for the quarter-finals at the Tokyo Games. Lovlina Borgohain booked her place in the quarterfinals of the women’s welterweight event on Tuesday. The Games have been a good hunting ground for India’s female boxers, with two of them only one win each away from securing a medal for the country. Indian boxing legend MC Mary Kom won her opening bout and will be in action on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Their male counterparts, on the other hand, have been nowhere near as impressive. The three that had taken part at the Olympics this year have all failed to make it past even the opening round.
As far as Rani goes, she could not have asked for a better performance. She got perfect scores from every single judge in every single one of the five rounds. It was boxing at its best and the Asian champion has all the momentum in the world ahead of her quarter-final clash. If she continues performing the way she did against Chaib, she might even be within a shout of winning the prestigious gold medal.
