It was a dominant day for Indian boxing at the U22 Asian Boxing Championships 2025 in Bangkok as four Indian boxers Neeraj, Ishan Kataria, Yatri Patel, and Priya advanced to the finals of their respective categories with commanding semifinal wins on Wednesday.
With their assured silver medals, the young pugilists now stand one win away from continental glory.
In a tournament featuring some of Asia’s finest young talent, India’s performance across both men’s and women’s draws continued to reflect the nation’s growing depth in boxing. With seven other boxers securing bronze medals, India’s tally at the championship is already promising, with hopes of gold riding high on the final bouts.
Neeraj Leads the Charge in Men’s 75kg
Middleweight boxer Neeraj kicked off the day’s proceedings with a stellar performance in the men’s 75kg category. Facing Kyeongho Bang of South Korea, Neeraj displayed sharp reflexes, clever footwork, and tactical counter-attacks to seal a 5:0 unanimous decision.
Using his speed to dictate the pace and frustrate the South Korean’s rhythm, Neeraj landed clean combinations through all three rounds, often catching his opponent off-guard on the counter. His ability to control the ring and vary his attack lines has made him one of India’s brightest prospects at this competition.
Dominance from Ishan Kataria in the Heavyweight Division
India’s biggest win of the day came in the 90+kg division where Ishan Kataria bulldozed his way into the final with a Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) win over Chen Chen of China in the third round. From the opening bell, Kataria was in control, using his imposing frame and devastating power punches to push his opponent onto the back foot.
By the third round, Chen could barely defend himself, prompting the referee to stop the bout a testament to Kataria’s physical superiority and tactical precision. This win not only secured a spot in the final but also highlighted Kataria’s potential to dominate the heavyweight scene in years to come.
Yatri Patel and Priya Secure Final Berths in Women’s Draw
In the women’s segment, Yatri Patel became the first Indian female boxer to reach the final on Wednesday with a commanding 5:0 victory in the 57kg semifinals against Vietnam’s Thi Nhung Quand. Using a textbook left-right combination and moving swiftly around the ring, Yatri kept the pressure on her opponent throughout.
Moments later, Priya, competing in the 60kg division, followed suit with another dominant performance, outboxing Uzbekistan’s Odinakhon Ismoilova to earn a place in the final. Priya’s blend of aggression and tactical poise left the Uzbek with no room to recover, and her sharp body punches proved crucial in securing a clear verdict. Both Yatri and Priya have impressed throughout the tournament with their consistency and fighting spirit, and will now look to cap off their campaigns with gold.
Bronze Medal Haul: A Mixed Bag in the Semis
While four Indian boxers marched into the finals, seven others had to settle for bronze after narrowly missing out in the semifinals.
In the morning session, Rockey Chaudhary’s campaign came to an unfortunate end after the referee stopped his bout in the second round due to cuts over both eyebrows, sustained in his clash against Iran’s Sam Estaki. The decision ended what had been a spirited campaign for Rockey.
Harsh (60kg) and Mayur (90kg) lost out in close contests that went to the judges. Harsh lost 1:4 to Uzbekistan’s Shohruh Abdumalikov, while Mayur was edged out by another Uzbek, Shakhzod Polvonov, in a fight that could have swung either way. Another boxer, Ankush, found the going tough against Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar-Ali Begaliyev, succumbing to a 0:5 loss and settling for bronze in his category.
In the evening session, Bhawna Sharma, who had looked in good touch in the quarterfinals, couldn’t maintain the same tempo and went down 1:4 against Uzbekistan’s Robiyakhon Bakhtiyorova in the women’s 48kg semifinals. The trio of Parthavi Grewal (60kg), Parnjal Yadav (65kg), and Shruti (75kg) also exited at the semifinal stage, securing bronze medals despite strong campaigns.
A Crucial Platform for India’s Next Generation
The U22 Asian Boxing Championships, held alongside the U19 edition, has become a pivotal platform for assessing the pipeline of future Olympians and world-level competitors from across Asia. With 40 Indian boxers (20 in U22, 20 in U19) participating, the championships provide invaluable international exposure and competition for emerging talents. India’s impressive showing so far with 11 confirmed medalists and four finalists still in contention for gold is a reflection of the country’s robust grassroots structure and recent improvements in coaching and infrastructure.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has, over the last few years, invested heavily in providing opportunities to junior and sub-elite boxers through international tours, exposure camps, and strong domestic competition. These efforts are beginning to bear fruit as a new generation of fighters like Neeraj, Kataria, Yatri, and Priya rise to the occasion on continental stages.
As the championship heads into its final stages, Indian boxing fans will have their eyes firmly set on the four gold medal bouts. With momentum on their side and morale high, Neeraj, Ishan Kataria, Yatri Patel, and Priya will aim to finish on a high and add to India’s growing legacy in Asian boxing.
Whatever the outcome, their performances have already underlined one fact: India’s boxing future is in safe hands.
