India’s promising campaign at the World Boxing Cup Astana, Kazakhstan 2025 continued to gather pace on Tuesday as three more Indian boxers Sakshi, Jaismine, and Lakshya Chahar booked their places in the quarterfinals with assured victories in their respective categories at the Beeline Arena.
Coming into the tournament with growing confidence following a strong showing in the Brazil leg, Team India has now seen eight boxers progress to the quarterfinals. The trio’s progression on Tuesday further reinforces the country’s rising footprint in world amateur boxing, particularly with Paris 2024 Olympic stars and upcoming talents working in tandem to deliver on the big stage.
Composed Sakshi Too Sharp for Davison
In the women’s 54kg division, Sakshi delivered a masterclass in control and precision, securing a dominant 5:0 unanimous decision win over England’s experienced Charley Davison. Right from the opening bell, Sakshi’s footwork and shot selection set the tone, allowing her to stay out of range while landing effective counters.
Her tactical maturity, especially in the final round, saw her step up the pace without taking unnecessary risks. Davison, a European medalist and Olympian, tried to force the issue in the second round, but Sakshi’s guard held firm. With this win, the Indian pugilist advances to the last eight with her confidence intact and her rhythm well-timed for the bigger challenges ahead.
Jaismine’s All-Round Display Seals Smooth Passage
Jaismine, competing in the women’s 57kg category, produced an equally dominant display as she outclassed Azerbaijan’s Aynur Mikayilova in a comprehensive 5:0 verdict. Displaying a calm head and sharp jab throughout the bout, the Haryana-based boxer never looked under pressure.
What stood out was Jaismine’s ring generalship—she cut angles well, dictated the pace, and landed clean combinations, especially in the second and third rounds. The Azerbaijani southpaw was unable to penetrate Jaismine’s guard or disrupt her tempo, giving the judges little room for doubt.
This marks yet another strong international outing for Jaismine, who has been building steadily since her debut on the world circuit. With the quarterfinals ahead, her blend of speed and strategy will be one to watch.
Lakshya Chahar Battles Through Adversity
In the men’s 80kg division, Lakshya Chahar had to dig deep against a tough opponent in Bulgaria’s William Cholov, eventually edging out a 4:1 split decision. The bout was fiercely contested from the outset, with both boxers trading powerful combinations in the opening round.
Lakshya, who suffered a deep cut above his right eye during the second round, showed tremendous grit and resilience to stay composed despite the blood flow and visual discomfort. Relying on clean straight punches and body shots in the final round, he did just enough to tilt the judges in his favor. The corner team also deserves credit for managing the injury effectively between rounds.
While the cut may pose a concern moving forward, Lakshya’s performance reflected the courage and fighting spirit that has come to define India’s rising stars in the heavier weight categories.
Heartbreak for Manish Rathore
Not all results went India’s way, as Manish Rathore bowed out of the competition following a tightly contested bout against Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi in the men’s 55kg category. Despite a strong start and good movement, Manish was edged out on points in what was described ringside as one of the most technical bouts of the day.
Rathore’s early exit will come as a disappointment, especially given his strong showing in training and preparation, but the narrow defeat will also serve as a learning curve for the young boxer.
India’s Contingent Growing in Strength
With Sakshi, Jaismine, and Lakshya now joining Sachin Siwach, Hitesh Gulia, Muskan, Minakshi, and Sanju in the quarterfinals, India has a significant presence in the later stages of the World Boxing Cup. The performances so far have been marked by consistency, strong fundamentals, and smart tactical planning hallmarks of a team that has prepared diligently across camps and international exposures.
What’s also noticeable is the spread across weight categories and genders, pointing to the depth and breadth of Indian boxing talent currently on display. With senior coaches and analysts watching closely ahead of the Olympic cycle, performances here could carry major implications for selections and long-term strategy.
Momentum on India’s Side
Team India arrived in Kazakhstan after an encouraging outing in Brazil, and the athletes have carried that momentum forward. The exposure to back-to-back top-tier competitions has clearly sharpened reflexes, honed strategy, and built the mental toughness required at this level.
“Momentum is with us,” a member of the coaching staff remarked. “We’ve planned each bout, opponent by opponent. Now it’s about execution and staying injury-free.”
While Lakshya’s cut may pose a question for medical assessment, the camp remains optimistic about his recovery and participation in the quarterfinal bout. The focus, however, remains collective with multiple boxers still in contention for podium finishes.
As the World Boxing Cup Astana progresses toward the business end of the tournament, all eyes will be on the quarterfinals, where medals will be on the line. Indian boxers have shown they’re not just here to participate they’re here to challenge, compete, and win.
With poise, power, and preparation coming together in Astana, Indian boxing seems well-placed to script another memorable chapter on the world stage.
