World Boxing Championships: Minakshi Hooda adds to India's gold medal tally after crushing Paris Olympics bronze medalist

India's Minakshi Hooda punched her way to the gold medal at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool on September 14, Sunday. This was India's second gold medal in the World Boxing Championships 2025.

Minakshi Hooda grabs gold at World Boxing Championships

Minakshi stunned Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan, a bronze medalist at the Paris Olympics, with a decisive 4:1 victory in the 48kg category final This remarkable win makes Hooda only the second Indian to ever claim a gold medal at the prestigious tournament.

In her final bout against Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, Minakshi Hooda started strong, with four of the five judges scoring the first round in her favor. Kyzaibay fought back in the second round, winning it by a narrow 3:2 margin. The final round was intense, with both boxers exchanging powerful blows. Ultimately, the judges favored the Indian, with four of the five giving Minakshi the edge and the victory.

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This victory is a monumental moment for Indian boxing, as Minakshi defeated a highly decorated opponent. Not only is Kyzaibay a bronze medalist from the 2024 Paris Olympics, but she also holds three women's world boxing championship gold medals, including one won earlier this year in Serbia. This win is particularly sweet for Minakshi, as Kyzaibay had previously defeated her in the semifinals of the World Boxing Cup in Astana this year, forcing the Indian to settle for a bronze medal.

Earlier Jaismine Lamboria pocketed first gold medal for India following, Nupur Sheoran's silver and Pooja Rani's bronze. Jaismine, a Commonwealth Games medalist, defeated Poland's Julia Szeremeta in the final encounter in the 57kg category. Jaismine got the better of Julia via a split decision.

In the 80kg+ category, Nupur won a silver medal after a hard-fought final against Poland's Agata Kaczmarska. Despite being at a height disadvantage, Kaczmarska closed the distance and battled effectively in close quarters. In the final seconds of the bout, she delivered a decisive blow that secured her a 3-2 split decision victory, much to the delight of the large contingent of Polish fans in attendance.

Meanwhile, local favorite Emily Asquith delivered a striking masterclass in the women's 80kg category, earning a spot in tomorrow's final. She secured a dominant 4-1 points victory over the more experienced Indian boxer Pooja Rani, who settled for a bronze medal. The home crowd cheered loudly as Asquith's performance guaranteed her a shot at the gold medal.