ATHENS, Aug 21: Pakistan's Olympic boxing campaign ended on a disappointing note when middleweight Ahmad Ali Khan was whipped by Gennadiy Golovkin of Kazakhstan in the second round on Saturday.

Ahmad, the last medal hope for Pakistan, bowed out of the Games after being thrashed 31-10 in a one-sided bout.

Pakistan have already lost earlier fights involving star boxers Meherullah and Asghar Ali Shah on whom the country was banking for a medal.

Meanwhile, the gold medal chances of France's Jerome Thomas received a double boost when he cruised through to the quarterfinals after seeing his main rival make an early exit.

Flyweight Thomas, who became his country's first world amateur champion in 2001, easily outpointed Juan Carlos Payano of the Dominican Republic.

Results (second round):

Flyweight: Rustamhodza Rahimov (Germany) beat Oscar Escandon Berrio (Colombia) points 25-15; Paulus Ambunda (Namibia) beat Jonny Gabriel Mendoza Alvarado (Venezuela) points 39-19; Yuriorkis Gamboa Toledano (Cuba) beat Somjit Jongjohor (Thailand) points 26-21; Georgy Balakshin (Russia) beat Mirzhan Rakhimzhanov (Kazakhstan) points 29-20; Andrzej Rzany (Poland) beat Hicham Mesbahi (Morocco) points 33-20; Fuad Aslanov (Azerbaijan) beat Nikoloz Izoria (Georgia) points 27-21; Jerome Thomas (France) beat Juan Carlos Payano (Dominican Republic) points 36-17; Tulashboy Doniyorov (Uzbekistan) beat Ron Siler (U.S.) points 45-22

Middleweight: Gennadiy Golovkin (Kazakhstan) beat Ahmed Ali Khan (Pakistan) points 31-10; Ramadan Yasser (Egypt) beat Marian Simion (Romania) points 36-24; Andre Dirrell (U.S.) beat Nabil Kassel (Algeria) referee stopped contest, 1:59, rnd 2; Yordani Despaigne Herrera (Cuba) beat Karoly Balzsay (Hungary) points 38-25.-Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...