Pooja Rani at Olympics 2021 today (28 July): Boxing preview, category, schedule, when and where to watch (IST)

Two-time Asian champion Pooja Rani will aim to become the third Indian female boxer to get their Tokyo Olympics 2021 campaign off to a winning start when she enters the ring on Wednesday.

It has been a tough few days for the country's boxing contingent. All three men who have contested so far - Vikas Krishan, Manish Kaushik and Ashish Kumar - have crashed out. On Tuesday, welterweight Lovlina Borgohain snapped the losing streak with her pre-quarterfinal victory to join MC Mary Kom as just the second Indian boxer to win a round in Tokyo.

Pooja Rani will look to continue the good run of form shown by the country's female pugilists. And the 30-year-old is in a very good position to do so.

The Bhiwani, Haryana-born Pooja Rani is one of the most senior boxers in the squad. More importantly, some of her biggest successes have come in the last couple of years. She won her first gold medal at the Asian Championships in 2019. She defended that title earlier this year.

Check Out: Tokyo Olympics 2021 Schedule

Some snapshots of our Baazigars as they all got suited up for @Tokyo2020 opening ceremony at Main Olympic Stadium, Tokyo 😎#RingKeBaazigar#boxing#Tokyo2020#Cheer4India#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/cVD7aJkscX

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) July 23, 2021

This is Pooja Rani’s first quadrennial Games. She faces Algeria's 20-year-old Ichrak Chaib in the 75 kg (middleweight) pre-quarter-finals, where the Indian should be the favorite to come through. The Algerian had finished fourth in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

The Medal Tally for Tokyo 2020 is out now. Check out the Tokyo Olympics Medal Tally

Pooja Rani category

Pooja Rani will make her Olympic debut in the 75 kg (middleweight) category.

Pooja Rani (in red) will look to make her mark on the 2021 Olympics

Pooja Rani schedule

Pooja Rani's round of 16 bout against Chaib is scheduled for 6.03 pm local time or 2.33 pm IST on Wednesday, July 28. It will take place at the Kokugikan Arena in the second session of the day.

Pooja Rani is the only Indian boxer on Wednesday's schedule.

When and where to watch

Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan will be bringing the Olympics 2021 live for Indian fans.

Live telecast: Doordarshan, Sony Ten 2, Sony Ten 2 HD, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD, Sony Ten 4, Sony Ten 4 HD, Sony Six, Sony Six HD

Live streaming: Sony Liv

𝗬𝗘 𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗞𝗛𝗔𝗔𝗦 𝗛𝗔𝗜 😍Women boxers, coaches and support staff pose near Olympic rings at Olympic village 🥊#RingKeBaazigar#boxing#Tokyo2020#Cheer4India pic.twitter.com/PBFsG845yd

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) July 21, 2021