Indian boxer Nishant Dev's loss to Mexican Marco Verde Alvarez in the men's 71kg category quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics has garnered scrutiny of the scoring system. Although the Haryana-born athlete seemed to dominate the early rounds, this was not reflected in the final score, which ended in a 4-1 split decision. Several Indian ace athletes and authorities have criticised the transparency of the scoring system at the Olympics, alleging that Dev was robbed of his win.
Nishant Dev Speaks Up
After the heartbreaking loss, Nishant Dev expressed that his Olympic dream had turned into a "nightmare." Dev, a 23-year-old world championship bronze medallist, expressed his disappointment in a heartfelt message on Instagram. "Nobody knows how hard I worked," he shared.
"Every day was a step toward this goal, every sacrifice a testament to my commitment. And in one cruel moment, it was all taken away from me," Dev wrote. He added, "Hearing the judges’ scores, it felt as though there was nothing left in my body—The pain was so intense that I felt I just couldn’t take it."
However, Dev expressed confidence that he will fight to reclaim his dream. "I may have missed out on a medal but I have gained a renewed sense of purpose.... This is not the end of my Olympic dream -- it's a chapter that will make my eventual triumph even more meaningful," he asserted.
Reactions To The Score Row
Many athletes have questioned the scoring system at the Paris Olympics, claiming Nishant Dev was unjustly scored. Pro boxer Laishram Sarita Devi spoke to The Bridge, expressing, "In my view, Nishant won the match, but the decision went in favour of the Mexican boxer."
Devi also expressed, “Sometimes, it happens in boxing, and it is very sad for the player and the nation as well. Now, what can I say? The decision has been made, and we cannot complain about it. When such a thing happens, and players complain, the players may face the consequences."
The veteran athlete added that despite her vast experience in the sport, the decision-making system fazes many boxers. Beijing Games bronze medallist Vijender Singh concurred; He wrote on X “I don’t know what’s the scoring system, but I think very close fight… he played so well."
More reactions
This is the second controversy in Olympic boxing in Paris. On July 31, a women's 66kg quarterfinal came to an end within 46 seconds after Algerian boxer Imane Khelif's blow injured the Italian counterpart, Angela Carini. This stirred speculations about Khelif's gender and sexual identity, with claims that she was allowed to participate despite failing a gender eligibility test in 2023.
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