India launched its campaign at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 in Greater Noida with a commanding display across weight categories, delivering four confident victories in the opening session.
From precise technical execution to sharp tactical adjustments, the Indian squad demonstrated the readiness and discipline expected at a high-profile international event. With the tournament carrying immense significance ahead of next season’s global competitions, the strong start helped establish early momentum and signaled the team’s intent.
The first Indian to enter the ring was Minakshi in the women’s 48kg category, and she set the tone with a completely dominant performance against Kazakhstan’s Bolat Akbota. Her victory, secured by a unanimous 5–0 decision, reflected a level of control that was evident from the opening seconds. The judges’ scorecards—27–30, 27–30, 26–30, 27–30, 27–30—captured the extent of her superiority. Each round saw Minakshi dictate distance with quick footwork, forcing her opponent into rushed entries and hurried shots.
Her straights and counters found their mark repeatedly, while her defensive movement left little for Akbota to build on. Even in the tight exchanges along the ropes, Minakshi’s sharper timing stood out. The wide margins on the cards mirrored the decisiveness of her display and gave India the perfect start to the afternoon session.
Preeti continued the winning sequence in the women’s 54kg bout, producing another unanimous decision against Uzbekistan’s Uktamova Nigina. Though the bout carried more competitive moments than the earlier contest, Preeti’s composure ensured she remained in control through all three rounds. The judges scored the fight 27–30, 27–30, 28–29, 28–29 and 27–30. The slight variations reflected moments where Uktamova attempted to close distance and disrupt rhythm, particularly during the second round when she increased her forward pressure.
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Yet Preeti’s technical clarity and discipline were evident in the way she adjusted her guard, relied on well-timed jabs, and worked her way out of tight spots with quick lateral movement. She also showed strong command in mid-range, landing repeated straight rights that helped her rebuild control whenever Uktamova attempted to unsettle the tempo. By the final bell, the continuity of her work across all three rounds left no doubt about the outcome, maintaining India’s unbeaten beginning.
The men’s lineup opened with Ankush in the 80kg category, who faced Japan’s Wakaya Go in what shaped up to be a tactical but forceful contest. Ankush delivered yet another unanimous 5–0 win, with the scorecards reading 29–28, 29–28, 30–27, 29–28 and 30–27. These numbers reflected a bout that began competitively, with Wakaya showing strong movement and early attempts to impose a mid-range fight. However, Ankush’s awareness and timing gradually altered the dynamic.
He capitalised on openings with sharp right hands and maintained effective ring-centre control, forcing Wakaya into selective exchanges rather than sustained combinations. The two 30–27 cards indicated his complete command in the second half of the fight, where he landed the cleaner shots and carried much of the offensive initiative. This performance underscored why he is considered one of India’s most stable performers in the middleweight range.
The final Indian bout of the session saw Narender take on Ukraine’s Andrii Khaletskyi in the super heavyweight 90+kg division a contest that demanded physical strength, strong endurance, and strategic clarity. Narender secured a strong 4–1 victory in what was a hard-fought affair, with the judges scoring it 29–28, 29–28, 29–28, 27–30, 29–28. Unlike the other Indian wins, this bout involved more rugged exchanges, especially in the second round where Khaletskyi pressed aggressively and forced Narender to adapt quickly.
The lone 27–30 score was an indication of that brief shift in momentum. Yet Narender’s maturity showed in the way he recovered, re-established distance with effective footwork, and used counterpunches to blunt his opponent’s charges. His jab-cross sequences regained rhythm in the concluding stages, and his positioning near the ropes remained controlled, preventing Khaletskyi from sustaining any advantage.
By the time the bell rang, the majority of the scorecards were firmly in Narender’s favour, reflecting his stronger command in the key stages of the fight.
India’s clean slate of victories in the opening session not only provided an ideal beginning but also highlighted the evolving technical depth of the squad. Each boxer demonstrated different strengths Minakshi’s pace and precision, Preeti’s composure and defensive structure, Ankush’s control of rhythm, and Narender’s resilience and ring awareness. Collectively, these performances showcased a team capable of handling diverse styles and adapting within bouts, an essential quality at a tournament that hosts some of the world’s most competitive national programs.
Beyond the individual wins, the nature of the scorecards particularly the wide margins in three of the four contests revealed the clarity of India’s boxing strategy. Clean decision victories on all but one card across the session indicated not just physical readiness but high tactical discipline. It was the kind of start that could influence the energy within the camp and build confidence heading into the more demanding rounds to come.
As the World Boxing Cup Finals progress, the challenges will intensify, but India’s opening-day performance leaves no doubt that the team has arrived well-prepared and willing to assert itself on the global stage.
The early signs point towards a promising campaign, with the first session in Greater Noida setting the platform for what could become a defining tournament for Indian boxing.
