Indian boxing continues its upward march on the international stage, as the national contingent capped off a stellar campaign at the World Boxing Cup Astana 2025 with a record haul of 11 medals, including three golds, five silvers, and three bronzes.
The second leg of the prestigious event, held in Kazakhstan’s capital, saw some of India’s finest pugilists step up when it mattered most especially the women, who led the way in spectacular fashion.
Golden Girls Shine Bright
India’s golden moments came courtesy of three fearless fighters Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), and Nupur (80+kg) who all produced high-quality performances to clinch top honours in their respective weight categories.
🥇 Sakshi (Women’s 54kg)
The two-time Youth World Champion opened India’s gold medal account with a dominant win over Yoseline Perez of the USA. Sakshi, known for her explosive hand speed and sharp ring movement, was at her tactical best, delivering clean combinations and maintaining constant pressure throughout the bout. The judges delivered a unanimous 5:0 decision in her favour a fitting reward for a fighter who has emerged as one of India’s most consistent prospects.
🥇 Jaismine Lamboria (Women’s 57kg)
Later in the day, Jaismine took the ring against Brazil’s Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu, a tricky southpaw with experience on the continental circuit. In what was arguably one of the tightest contests of the finals, Jaismine showed composure and used her reach effectively, especially in the final round where her counter-attacks made the difference. She won the bout 4:1, securing India’s second gold of the night.
🥇 Nupur (Women’s +80kg)
Nupur, in the heavyweight category, faced local favourite Yeldana Talipova of Kazakhstan. After dropping the opening round, Nupur made crucial adjustments, switched tactics, and launched a fierce comeback. Her dominance in the second and third rounds marked by clean right hands and superior footwork earned her a 5:0 unanimous verdict, completing a golden hat-trick for India.
Fighting Hard: India’s Silver Medallists
While the golds lit up the headlines, India’s five silver medals showed the depth and determination of the squad.
🥈Meenakshi (Women’s 48kg)
The young Indian boxer gave a gutsy account of herself against Olympic bronze medalist and home favourite Nazym Kyzaibay. Despite a strong third round push, Meenakshi narrowly lost by a 3:2 split decision in what was one of the most debated results of the day.
🥈 Jugnoo (Men’s 85kg)
Jugnoo fought valiantly but was outclassed by Bekzad Nurdauletov, the former world champion from Kazakhstan. The 0:5 scoreline doesn’t reflect the early pressure Jugnoo applied, but the experience gap showed as the bout wore on.
🥈 Pooja Rani (Women’s 80kg)
India’s seasoned middleweight Pooja Rani faced Eseta Flint of Australia in the final. The Aussie boxer kept Pooja at bay with a well-structured game plan and took a clean 5:0 win. Nonetheless, the silver capped off a strong comeback tournament for Pooja.
🥈 Hitesh Gulia (Men’s 70kg)
Hitesh entered the finals with momentum after a gritty semi-final win over France’s Makan Traore. But in the final, he ran into Brazil’s Kaian Oliveira, who won via unanimous decision. Observers noted the bout was closer than the scorecard suggested Hitesh possibly edged the second round, but failed to sway the judges.
🥈Abhinash Jamwal (Men’s 65kg)
In a rematch of an earlier bout from the Brazil leg, Abhinash squared off against Yuri Reis of Brazil. The fight was tense, evenly matched, and full of tactical exchanges. Jamwal landed sharp body shots and moved well, but narrowly lost on a 2:3 split. It was a strong showing nonetheless and capped India’s campaign with spirit and steel.
Bronze Medal Warriors
India also had three boxers return home with bronze medals:
🥉 Sanju (Women’s 60kg)
Lost in the semifinals to Kazakhstan’s Grafeyeva in a 0:5 decision, but showed promise in the early rounds.
🥉 Nikhil Dubey (Men’s 75kg)
Fought valiantly against Sabyrzhan Akkalykov but lost 2:3 in a very tight contest that could have gone either way.
🥉 Narender (Men’s +90kg)
The super heavyweight fell short against Germany’s Nikita Putilov, losing 1:4 in the semifinal, but impressed with his strength and heart.
Overall Impact and Future Outlook
India’s 11-medal haul in Astana three gold, five silver, three bronze is their best-ever performance at the World Boxing Cup, surpassing the six medals (1 gold, 1 silver, 4 bronze) won in the earlier Brazil leg.
The tournament also revealed some key takeaways:
- Depth in Women’s Boxing: The women’s team, led by Sakshi, Jaismine, and Nupur, not only won all three golds but showed that India is developing world-class talent across weight divisions.
- Promise in the Men’s Camp: While the men fell short of gold, several bouts went the distance. Boxers like Hitesh and Abhinash showed they are closing in on world-class consistency.
- Experience vs Youth: Facing seasoned international opponents helped Indian boxers understand the physical and tactical demands of elite competition crucial in the lead-up to the next Olympic cycle.
In Conclusion
The World Boxing Cup Astana 2025 will be remembered as a breakout event for Indian boxing, particularly for its women stars. With three golds, India not only finished among the top-performing nations but also sent a message ahead of bigger tournaments: India is ready to box with the best.
As the boxers return home, their eyes will now turn to the Asian Championships, Olympic qualifiers, and the World Championships. But for now, it’s celebration time for every punch thrown, every medal earned, and every heart won.
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