Noida: At the World Boxing Cup Finals held here on Thursday, Hitesh Gulia and Sachin Siwach won the coveted yellow metal, while Indian women boxers, led by famed fighter Nikhat Zareen, lived up to their high expectations to win seven gold medals. The hosts concluded with nine gold, six silver, and five bronze medals, having won at least one in each of the 20 weight categories. Reigning world champions Jaismine Lamboria (57 kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48 kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti Pawar (54 kg), world bronze medallist Parveen Hooda (60 kg), former youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary (70 kg), and Nupur Sheoran (+80 kg) all won gold on a day when fifteen Indians competed.
Silver medals were won by Jadumani Singh (50 kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65 kg), Pawan Bartwal (55 kg), Ankush Phangal (80 kg), Narender Berwal (+90 kg), and Pooja Rani (80 kg). Bronze medals were awarded to Neeraj Phogat (65 kg), Saweety (75 kg), Sumit Kundu (75 kg), Jugnoo (85 kg), and Naveen (90 kg). The WBC Finals proved invaluable for Indian pugilists on the comeback trail like Parveen, Preeti, and Arundhati, who used the platform to regain rhythm and confidence, despite the tournament field being depleted with several top-ranked boxers missing the event and powerhouses like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sending third-string squads.
Olympic medallist Jaismine dazzles; Preeti keeps up her incredible run
In a thrilling final, Jaismine defeated Paris Olympics champion Wu Shih Yi 4-1, delivering one of India’s greatest victories in the competition. In order to secure a decisive victory, the Services boxer set her pace early with fluid combinations and handled late pressure with poise. Preeti put up another outstanding effort against Italy’s world championship medallist Sirine Charrabi after defeating the defending world champion earlier in the competition.
With excellent movement and prolonged attacking bursts, she dictated the pace while consistently pinning Charrabi to the corners with clean face strokes.
Nikhat comes back carrying gold
Nikhat (50 kg), a two-time world champion, won her first gold since the 2023 World Championships with a unanimous victory over Guo Yi Xuan of Chinese Taipei. The fight also marked the Telangana boxer’s successful recuperation from injury.
Arundhati decisively defeated Aziza Zokirova of Uzbekistan 5-0, while Parveen narrowly defeated Ayaka Taguchi of Japan 3-2. Farzona Fozilova, the current Asian champion, was defeated by Minakshi Hooda in a nearly perfect 5-0 victory. In the men’s division, Sachin combined accuracy, momentum control, and clean punching to defeat Munarbek Uulu Seiitbek of Kyrgyzstan 5:0. In an exciting fight, Hitesh overcame an early deficit to defeat Nurbek Mursal of Kazakhstan 3:2. He rallied in Rounds 2 and 3 with powerful counters and a calm finish.
Within BFI, friction arises
During the Boxing Federation of India’s Special General Meeting on the fringes of the competition, certain state unit members voiced dissatisfaction with the organization’s operations and claimed to have filed a “no-confidence motion” against president Ajay Singh. Singh, however, refuted the allegations, pointing out that a number of the same members had also signed a statement expressing their trust in him. “Unfortunately, a no-confidence motion with 28 signatures was brought during today’s SGM. However, the assertion that it originated from three-fourths of the members is wholly false, Singh said reporters.
“A large number of signatories are not even members. Additionally, a much greater number of the same members have signed another petition demonstrating their faith in me. Singh is allegedly “misusing his authority time and again,” according to a statement signed by 28 members that is in the possession of PTI, citing ongoing concerns such as the change of the BFI constitution. “Elections are used to decide these matters. Elections have been conducted, approved by the Indian government, and verified by World Boxing. We must continue to concentrate on boxing, the athletes, the camps, and the championships we need to get ready for. These things cannot divert us,” Singh stated.
The hosts concluded with nine gold, six silver, and five bronze medals, having won at least one in each of the 20 weight categories. Reigning world champions Jaismine Lamboria (57 kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48 kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti Pawar (54 kg), world bronze medallist Parveen Hooda (60 kg), former youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary (70 kg), and Nupur Sheoran (+80 kg) all won gold on a day when fifteen Indians competed. Silver medals were won by Jadumani Singh (50 kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65 kg), Pawan Bartwal (55 kg), Ankush Phangal (80 kg), Narender Berwal (+90 kg), and Pooja Rani (80 kg).
Bronze medals were awarded to Neeraj Phogat (65 kg), Saweety (75 kg), Sumit Kundu (75 kg), Jugnoo (85 kg), and Naveen (90 kg). The WBC Finals proved invaluable for Indian pugilists on the comeback trail like Parveen, Preeti, and Arundhati, who used the platform to regain rhythm and confidence, despite the tournament field being depleted with several top-ranked boxers missing the event and powerhouses like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sending third-string squads.
