Pooja Rani to move to 70-kg category to revive career

NEW DELHI: After largely staying out of the international competitive scene during the previous Olympic cycle, two-time Asian champion boxer Pooja Rani is contemplating a move down to the 70kg weight class as she targets a comeback for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

The Tokyo Olympian's last major tournament was the 2022 IBA World Championships in Turkey, after which she took a one-year break.

"I took a one-year gap as I got married in early 2023. I returned for the National Championships, but since Lovlina (Borgohain) had already qualified for the Olympics by then, I couldn't compete in the Olympic qualifiers," the 80kg boxer said.

Pooja, who also has a bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games to her credit, clinched the 2023 Nationals title in the middleweight category.

However, since Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain had already qualified for the Paris Games in the 75kg weight class, the Bhiwani boxer found little opportunity to compete.

The only competition she participated in post-national title victory was the BRICS Games last year, but she has no complaints.

"Right now, Lovlina has had better training than me, and she's a better boxer. I lost the last bout I had with her.“ Agencies

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