India concluded the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 on a triumphant note, claiming a total of nine gold, six silver, and five bronze medals, ensuring that the hosts finished with at least one medal in all 20 contested weight categories.
India women take charge with 7 golds in World Boxing Cup Final
The gold medal rush was spearheaded by the women boxers, who lived up to their top billing to clinch seven titles. The men's side contributed two gold medals, won by Hitesh Gulia and Sachin Siwach on the final day of competition.
The gold medal winners included star pugilist Nikhat Zareen (51kg), alongside a host of accomplished teammates: reigning world champions Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48kg); Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti Pawar (54kg); world bronze medallist Parveen Hooda (60kg); former youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary (70kg); and Nupur Sheoran (+80kg). A strong contingent of Indian boxers also secured podium finishes as runners-up, with silver medals going to Jadumani Singh (50kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Ankush Phangal (80kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg), and Pooja Rani (80kg). Neeraj Phogat (65kg), Saweety (75kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Jugnoo (85kg), and Naveen (90kg) rounded off the medal tally with bronze.
Medal rush for Indian boxers
Despite the tournament field being somewhat depleted, with several top-ranked international boxers skipping the event and powerhouses like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sending third-string squads, the World Boxing Cup Finals proved to be invaluable for the Indian pugilists. It served as a crucial platform for boxers on the comeback trail, such as Parveen Hooda, Preeti Pawar, and Arundhati Choudhary, allowing them to regain vital rhythm and confidence heading into the next phase of the boxing season.
Jaismine Lamboria delivered one of India's most significant victories of the competition by upstaging Paris Olympics medallist Wu Shih Yi in a thrilling final, winning with a decisive 4–1 score. The Services boxer demonstrated excellent control, setting an early tempo with smooth, flowing combinations. Crucially, she handled the late pressure applied by her opponent with exceptional composure to secure a powerful statement victory in her category.
Meanwhile, Preeti Pawar continued her impressive run in the competition. Having already successfully defeated the reigning world champion earlier in the tournament, she produced another stellar performance in the final against Italy’s world championship medallist, Sirine Charrabi. Pawar was tactically dominant, repeatedly pinning Charrabi to the corners of the ring. She dictated the pace of the bout with superior footwork and sustained attacking spells, consistently landing clean shots to secure her gold medal.
Nikhat Zareen shines bright
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (50kg) registered a unanimous victory over Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi Xuan, clinching her first gold medal since the 2023 World Championships. This win also signaled a highly successful return from injury for the Telangana boxer. Elsewhere, Parveen Hooda secured a gritty 3–2 split decision victory against Japan’s Ayaka Taguchi, while Arundhati Choudhary dismantled Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova with a commanding 5–0 decision. Finally, Minakshi Hooda achieved a near-flawless victory, earning a 5–0 decision over reigning Asian champion Farzona Fozilova to complete a highly successful day for the Indian team.