Meenakshi, Pooja Rani, Hitesh lead the charge as Indian boxers eye record medal haul at World Boxing Cup Astana 2025
It was a day to remember for Indian boxing in Astana, Kazakhstan, as the country’s pugilists punched their way into eight finals at the ongoing World Boxing Cup Astana 2025. With four women and four men (including earlier qualified Nupur in the women’s 80+ kg) reaching the gold medal bouts, India is now on the brink of its best-ever finish at this prestigious competition.
On a day of high-octane semifinal action, Meenakshi (48kg), Sakshi (54kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Jugnoo (85kg), and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) joined Nupur in the final line-up. Their commanding performances ensured that India not only bettered its tally from the Brazil leg earlier this year but made a strong statement on the international stage.
India’s final medal tally already stands at 11, with Sanju (60kg), Nikhil Dubey (75kg), and Narender (+90kg) bowing out in the semifinals and settling for bronze medals.
Women Boxers Seize the Moment
This is the first time Indian women have featured in a World Boxing Cup, and they made their presence felt in emphatic fashion.
Meenakshi was the first to step into the ring on Saturday and set the tone with a dominant 5:0 win over Nurselen Yalgettekin of Turkey in the 48kg category. She was aggressive from the opening bell, landing a flurry of punches that left little room for the judges to waver.
Following her, Sakshi (54kg) dismantled Uzbekistan’s Feruza Kazakova with equal authority. Using her superior movement and timing, Sakshi dominated all three rounds to secure another unanimous 5:0 verdict.
In the 80kg category, veteran Olympian Pooja Rani was made to work hard by Turkey’s Elif Guneri. In a close bout that saw momentum swing back and forth, Pooja used all her experience to edge the contest 3:2, booking a place in the final and keeping alive her chances of returning to the top of the podium.
Jaismine Lamboriya, in the 57kg weight class, ensured a near-perfect day for India’s women. She displayed remarkable control and clean execution to defeat Kazakhstan’s Aidana Zabynbekova in a unanimous decision.
These four wins, added to Nupur’s earlier qualification in the women’s 80+ kg, have now given India a golden opportunity to dominate the women’s segment of the competition.
Men Keep the Momentum Going
India’s male boxers, who had delivered six medals in the Brazil leg earlier this year, continued their strong showing in Astana.
Leading the charge was Hitesh Gulia (70kg), who overcame a tough start to defeat France’s Makan Traore via a 3:2 split decision. Traore started stronger, but Hitesh found his rhythm in the second round, landing several clean punches. The final round saw Hitesh take full control, with his hand raised after a hard-earned win.
The biggest margin of the day came from Jugnoo (85kg), who steamrolled England’s Teagn Scott with a 5:0 unanimous decision. Jugnoo’s power and control proved too much for the English boxer, and his dominant display has raised expectations for a gold on Sunday.
Next up was Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), who took on home favourite Yertugan Zeinullinov of Kazakhstan. Jamwal showed composure under pressure, neutralising the local crowd and earning another 5:0 verdict. His clean footwork and sharp counters allowed him to control the tempo and earn his place in the final.
Bronze Medals for Sanju, Dubey and Narender
Not every bout went India’s way, but even in defeat, the performances were commendable.
Sanju (60kg) was outboxed by Kazakhstan’s Grafeyeva, who earned a clean 5:0 win. Sanju struggled to break through her opponent’s defence and could not find the answers in three rounds. However, she returns with a well-fought bronze.
In the men’s 75kg, Nikhil Dubey was involved in a tight contest against another Kazakh boxer, Sabyrzhan Akkalykov. The match ended in a narrow 2:3 split decision, with Dubey just falling short despite landing quality shots throughout the fight.
In the heavyweight division, Narender (+90kg) faced Germany’s Nikita Putilov, a powerful opponent who used his reach and weight advantage well. Narender tried to close the distance but ultimately went down 1:4, settling for bronze.
Historic Performance on the Cards
India’s previous best at a World Boxing Cup came earlier this year in Brazil, where the male contingent brought home six medals. With 11 already secured in Astana, including eight finalists, the 2025 edition promises to go down as India’s most successful outing in the competition’s history.
The fact that women boxers have made such a resounding debut on this stage adds even greater value to the campaign.
Finalists from India World Boxing Cup, Astana 2025:
- Women’s 48kg: Meenakshi
- Women’s 54kg: Sakshi
- Women’s 57kg: Jaismine Lamboriya
- Women’s 80kg: Pooja Rani
- Women’s 80+kg: Nupur
- Men’s 65kg: Abhinash Jamwal
- Men’s 70kg: Hitesh Gulia
- Men’s 85kg: Jugnoo
With eight boxers stepping into the ring for gold on Sunday, the final day in Astana could well be remembered as a landmark moment for Indian boxing. A strong showing now will not only boost India’s medal tally but further cement its growing status in global amateur boxing.
All eyes now turn to the finals. Can India finish with a flourish?
