The year 2025 will be remembered as one of the most consequential seasons in the history of Indian boxing.
It was a year marked by governance turmoil, a fundamental shift in the global boxing order, and sharply contrasting fortunes for India’s men’s and women’s teams. As the sport transitioned from the discredited International Boxing Association (IBA) to the IOC-recognised World Boxing framework, Indian boxing found itself navigating uncertainty off the ring even as its athletes delivered moments of excellence inside it.
Governance Chaos Meets a Global Reset
Indian boxing entered 2025 amid administrative instability. The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) was embroiled in internal disputes over elections, leadership legitimacy, and allegations of financial irregularities. Delays in conducting elections led the Indian Olympic Association to appoint an ad-hoc committee, a move contested in court by the BFI leadership. The resulting legal standoff stalled key decisions on selection trials, training camps, and international exposure during the early part of the season.
This domestic chaos coincided with a global upheaval. Following the IOC’s withdrawal of recognition from the IBA, World Boxing emerged as the new Olympic-aligned governing body. By February 2025, World Boxing received provisional IOC recognition, forcing national federations including the BFI to formally realign or risk Olympic ineligibility. For Indian boxers, the transition was not optional; it was existential.
Despite the instability, the BFI completed its pivot to World Boxing and introduced reforms aimed at professionalising the system. A stricter selection policy, camp accountability mechanisms, and alignment with WADA and NADA signalled a move toward a more performance-driven structure.
World Boxing Cup: A Promising Start for the Men
India’s first major international test under the World Boxing banner came at the World Boxing Cup Stage I in Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil. The men’s team, benefiting from a dedicated pre-event training camp, delivered encouraging results. Six medals including a gold by Hitesh Gulia in the 70kg category placed India firmly on the new ranking map.
Gulia’s gold was historic, making him India’s first World Boxing Cup champion. Though the final was decided by walkover, his earlier bouts showcased improved ring control and counter-punching maturity. Abhinash Jamwal’s silver and four additional bronze medals reflected growing depth in the men’s squad and ensured valuable ranking points ahead of the season’s marquee events.
Liverpool Highs and Lows
The 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool were the centrepiece of the calendar and a stark study in contrast. India’s women’s team produced a world-class performance, finishing third overall with two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda emerged as standout champions, delivering tactically mature performances against elite opposition.
Jaismine’s gold at 57kg was especially significant, as she outboxed Paris Olympic silver medallist Julia Szeremeta using superior reach management and counter-punching. Minakshi Hooda’s victory at 48kg carried emotional weight, as she avenged an earlier loss to Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, demonstrating composure and technical growth at the highest level.
In contrast, the men’s campaign ended in disappointment. For the first time in 12 years, India returned from a World Championships without a single men’s medal. Central Asian powerhouses Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan dominated the field, exposing India’s difficulty in matching their relentless tempo, physicality, and tactical discipline. Administrative disruptions earlier in the year, which limited international exposure, were widely cited as a contributing factor.
Home Ground Dominance in Greater Noida
The season concluded on a high note at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida, India’s first major World Boxing event on home soil. India produced a record haul of 20 medals, including nine golds, with every Indian boxer finishing on the podium.
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The women’s team once again led the charge, winning seven gold medals. Nikhat Zareen’s gold at 51kg marked a successful return after a long injury layoff, while Minakshi Hooda and Jaismine Lamboria continued their remarkable consistency. On the men’s side, Hitesh Gulia confirmed his status as India’s most reliable performer of the season, completing a medal treble across the World Boxing Cup circuit. While the performance was historic, analysts cautioned against overinterpretation.
The field was thinner than at the World Championships, and several top-ranked international boxers skipped the event. Nonetheless, the Finals demonstrated India’s growing ability to peak at key moments and capitalise on structured preparation.
The 2025 season highlighted a clear technical direction. In lighter weight categories, Indian boxers leaned into speed, footwork, and punch accuracy, aligning well with World Boxing’s emphasis on clean scoring. Boxers like Preeti Pawar, Minakshi Hooda, and Sachin Siwach thrived under this model. In heavier divisions, raw power remained India’s strength, but the need for better tempo control and endurance was evident. Hitesh Gulia’s success stood out precisely because he blended power with patience an approach Indian coaches will look to replicate.
Looking Ahead to 2026
With the Asian Games in Nagoya and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow looming in 2026, Indian boxing enters a critical phase. Selection pathways are clearer, rankings are stabilising, and the return of high-performance experts such as Santiago Nieva signals renewed intent.
Yet challenges remain. Governance stability, officiating transparency, and bridging the performance gap in men’s elite boxing will define the next chapter. The women have shown that world titles are achievable under the new system. The task now is to ensure the men follow.
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Indian boxing in 2025 was chaotic, compelling, and transformative. As the sport settles into the World Boxing era, the foundations for a stronger, more accountable Olympic cycle have been laid unevenly, but unmistakably.
