Boxing: Preeti wins Olympic quota, assures India of an Asian Games medal; Lovlina in semis

Indian boxer Preeti Pawar secured a quota for the Paris Olympics and also assured herself of a medal along with Lovlina Borgohain as they moved into the semifinals of the Asian Games here on Saturday.

The 19-year-old Preeti put up a fearless display against Kazakhstan's Zhaina Shekerbekova, a three-time World Championship medallist and reigning Asian champion, to eke out a 4-1 win in a fiercely fought 54kg quarterfinal bout Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina, who received a first round bye, used her long reach to expectedly defeat South Korea's Seong Suyeon by a 5-0 unanimous decision in the women's 75 kg category.

Lovlina is now a win away from earning an Olympic quota.