Flyweight preview: Can Galal Yafai upset Uzbekistan's amateur king?
- Joe Hewlett
- 23 July 2021
Top seed: Amit Panghal
The Indian flyweight is one of the most talented fighters to come from India of all-time and has all the tools to win a medal in Tokyo.
Nine fighters are representing India at this year's Olympics, the most to ever do so with four getting byes into the last-16, including Panghal.
In 2021, he won silver at the 2021 Asian Championships and won medals at the 2019 World Championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games.
In just four years as an amateur, Panghal has already fought 67 times, winning 54 of them.
Most talked about: Shakhobidin Zoirov
Continuing a strong field of Uzbekistan fighters, Shakhobidin Zoirov is eyeing another Olympic gold medal.
Zoirov won top honours in Rio, overcoming Brendan Irvine, Antonio Vargas, Elvin Mamishzada,Yoel Finol and Mikhail Aloyan without losing a round.
If being honest, it would be a big surprise if the southpaw does not replicate the same type of form in this tournament. He also won gold at the 2021 Asian Championships and 2019 World Championships.
Zoirov has also beaten the top seed on three occasions, including his most recent bout at the 2021 Asian Championships final.
One to watch: Galal Yafai
There is no doubt about the development of Galal Yafai.
Entering his second successive Olympics, Yafai is much more improved and has often been in the medals.
His best achievement was winning gold at the Commonwealth Games. Galal also has two brothers who fight: Kal Yafai and Gamal Yafai.
"KAL & GAMAL THINK I'M A NOVICE!"π @galal_yafai is glad for advice from his boxing brothers and says he won't get fazed by competing at the Olympicsπͺπ¬π§ pic.twitter.com/Lmu4gytZLA
β Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) July 22, 2021
Kal fought at the 200 Olympics and has gone on to become world champion, defending it on five occasions.
Gamal is also a professional and has arepresented Team GB, winning bronze at the 2010 European Championships.
With the experience from his previous outing at the Games alongside his two brothers available for advice, the 28-year-old has every chance of picking up a medal this summer.
