Boxer Nishant Dev's loss at Paris Olympics sparks controversy as Vijender Singh, Randeep Hooda criticise scoring system

Indian boxer Nishant Dev faced a contentious quarter-final defeat at the Paris Olympics, losing to Mexico’s Marco Verde with a 4-1 split decision. Despite appearing dominant in the early rounds, Dev's performance did not reflect in the final score, igniting controversy over the scoring system used.

Controversy Over Scoring System
Nishant Dev’s close loss has drawn significant criticism from notable figures. Former Olympic bronze medalist Vijender Singh expressed his doubts about the scoring on X, stating, “I don’t know what’s the scoring system, but I think very close fight… he played so well… koi na bhai #NishantDev.” Actor Randeep Hooda also voiced his frustration, writing, “Nishant had won it. What’s this scoring? Robbed of the medal but won hearts. Sad!! Many more to go chore!!”



Here's how other fans reacted







Match Breakdown
Dev started strong, winning the first round, but the match took a turn in the second round. Verde, who was initially pressured by Dev’s aggressive jabs, managed to secure a split decision in the second round with a 3-2 verdict. In the final round, Verde received unanimous points from the judges, which sealed Dev’s exit from the competition.

Background on Nishant Dev and Amit Panghal
Nishant Dev's loss is particularly notable as he missed an opportunity to secure India’s first non-shooting medal at the Paris Olympics. The 23-year-old from Karnal, Haryana, had earlier advanced to the quarter-finals by narrowly defeating Ecuador’s Jose Rodriguez.

In another setback for India, Amit Panghal also exited the Olympics after a loss in the men’s 51 kg category round of 16. Panghal was defeated by Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba with a 1-4 split decision, adding to the overall disappointment of India’s boxing team.