World Boxing Cup Finals: 4 Indian boxers including Minakshi Hooda, Ankush Panghal ensure medals for nation after storming into semis

India made a flawless start on the opening day of the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 in Greater Noida, as four boxers, Minakshi Hooda, Preeti Pawar, Ankush Phangal, and Narender Berwal, all secured medals with dominant wins. Given that the tournament features only the world's top eight boxers in each category, the Indian quartet cruised through their opening bouts at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex to reach the semi-finals, thereby guaranteeing podium finishes.

Medals confirmed for four Indian boxers at World Boxing Cup Finals 2025

In the women's division, reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda won a high-tempo quarter-final bout 5-0 in her preferred category against Kazakhstan’s Bolat Akbota. Preeti, competing in the 54kg category, followed suit with an equally impressive 5-0 victory, utilizing sharp combinations to overwhelm Uzbekistan’s former youth world champion, Nigina Uktamova.

ALSO READ: Big boost to India as Shubman Gill discharged from hospital, returns to team hotel but...

The men's division also saw strong performances. Ankush Phangal delivered a composed performance in the 80kg category, absorbing early pressure before successfully shifting gears against Japan’s Go Wakaya to secure a 5-0 unanimous win. In the 90+kg division, Narender Berwal delivered a gritty performance. He pushed through a cut above his eye, relying on disciplined defense to register a 4-1 victory over Ukraine’s Andrii Khaletskyi.

ALSO READ: Watch: Angry Gautam Gambhir spotted having serious chat with Rishabh Pant after India's painful defeat against South Africa in 1st Test

Looking ahead, Monday will feature action from Pawan Bartwal (men’s 55kg), Sumit (men’s 75kg), Naveen Kumar (men’s 90kg), World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025 medalist Jadumani Singh (men’s 50kg), and Hitesh (men’s 70kg). Commonwealth Games champion Nikhat Zareen will begin her campaign directly from the semi-finals later in the competition. However, India’s Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain is not participating due to injury, with Saweety Boora filling in for her in the women’s 75kg category.

“This is my first international tournament since the last Olympics. This gap (away from the national team) was very challenging but it motivated me to come back. I am feeling very positive. I have worked on my defence and counters. I am an attacking boxer. I was sick after the Olympics and my body was very down. I had to work a lot on my endurance to get back on track,” Preeti Pawar said after the match, as quoted by Hindustan Times.