Nishant Dev secures Paris Olympics boxing quota for Indian men
Thailand: 23-year-old Indian boxer Nishant Dev clinched India’s fourth Olympics quota in boxing and the first for men’s boxing on friday afternoon. His victory came with a unanimous 5:0 win over Vasile Cebotari of Moldova at the World Olympic qualifier in Thailand.
After a narrow defeat earlier in the year against American Omari Jones, Nishant regrouped, displaying resilience and strategic planning. His father, Pawan Dev, shared insights into Nishant's mindset, highlighting his determination to secure the Olympics quota.
Nishant's journey into boxing began in Karnal, where he was inspired by his uncle and later by the achievements of boxer Manoj Kumar. Under the guidance of his coach Surendra Chauhan, Nishant honed his skills, emphasizing his natural advantages as a southpaw boxer.
Recognition of Nishant's talent came in 2019 when then-Indian foreign high-performance director Santiago Nieva noticed his potential. Despite setbacks, including a shoulder injury that required surgery, Nishant's dedication remained unwavering.
His recent victory in Thailand marks a significant milestone in his career, propelling him towards the Paris Olympics with hopes of securing India's first medal in men’s boxing since Vijender Singh's achievement in 2008.
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Protesters clash with police during torch rally in Manipur
Imphal (PTI): People protesting the death of two children in a recent bomb blast in Manipur clashed with security forces during a torch rally in the state capital Imphal, police said.
Two children died in a bomb blast at Tronglaobi in Bishnupur on April 7. The Imphal Valley districts have been witnessing daily protests over the incident.
A seven-km-long torch rally was brought out from Mayai Lambi to Keishamthong in Imphal West district on Monday night, but the participants turned violent and clashed with the security forces, a police officer said.
Security forces fired several rounds of tear gas shells in Keishamthong area after hundreds of protesters defying curfew demanded they be allowed to proceed for another 200 metres towards Keisampat area, which is close to the Lok Bhavan and the BJP state office, he said.
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Orders prohibiting the movement of any individuals outside their respective homes are in force in all the five valley districts from 5 pm to 5 am.
"Protesters pelted the security forces with stones and iron pellets from catapults, endangering the lives of the heavily outnumbered security forces," the officer said.
Manipur Police have, meanwhile, arrested 19 people for violating curfew and committing offences, including blocking roads and damaging public property, in the Greater Imphal area. They were nabbed from different parts of Imphal West district on Sunday, a police statement said.
In the Ukhrul district headquarters, a candlelight vigil was held on Monday night to honour the two Tangkhul Naga civilians who were killed in an ambush in TM Kasom area in the district on April 18.
Various civil society organisations from both the valley and hill areas strongly condemned the brutal killings, alleging that the victims were shot by Kuki militants using sniper rifles.
