In a performance that will be remembered for years to come, Minakshi Hooda etched her name into Indian sporting history by winning the women’s 48kg gold medal at the 2025 World Boxing Championships.
The 24-year-old boxer from India stunned Kazakhstan’s legendary Nazym Kyzaibay a three time World Champion and Olympic bronze medallist in the final, claiming a 4-1 split decision victory.
With this triumph, Minakshi becomes the 10th Indian woman to win a world title, joining an illustrious list of champions that includes Mary Kom, Sarita Devi, Jenny RL, Lekha KC, Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Ghanghas, Lovlina Borgohain, Saweety Boora, and Jaismine Lamboria.
Minakshi’s campaign in Liverpool was marked by dominance, composure, and a relentless fighting spirit. She began in the Round of 16, where she outclassed Wang of China with a unanimous 5-0 verdict. Her sharp movement and effective counters set the tone for what would become a remarkable run.
In the quarterfinals, Minakshi faced Alice of England. Against the home favorite, she maintained her calm and delivered a clinical 5-0 decision, silencing the local crowd with precision punching and tactical superiority.
The semifinal brought her up against Mongolia’s Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg, the 2023 World Championships silver medallist. Minakshi produced her most dominant display of the tournament, winning another 5-0 unanimous decision. Her ability to dictate tempo and neutralize her opponent’s strengths highlighted her growth as a big-stage competitor.
The final was always going to be her sternest test. Facing Nazym Kyzaibay, a decorated veteran with three world titles (2014, 2016, 2025) and a Paris Olympic bronze, Minakshi had history stacked against her. She had previously lost to Kyzaibay in the Astana World Boxing Cup final earlier this year. But this time, Minakshi turned the script on its head.
With measured aggression, clever ring craft, and unwavering discipline, she edged out the Kazakh legend by a 4-1 split decision. The victory was not just a personal triumph but also a symbolic passing of the torch a young Indian boxer dethroning an established global champion.
Avenging the Past, Inspiring the Future
The win against Kyzaibay carried extra weight for Minakshi. Having lost to the same opponent in Astana, her ability to regroup, learn, and ultimately overcome the Kazakh speaks volumes of her mental resilience. World finals are as much about handling pressure as they are about skill, and Minakshi showed she could do both with maturity beyond her years.
This gold also adds to India’s impressive campaign in Liverpool. The nation finished the championships with four medals two golds, one silver, and one bronze. Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) secured India’s first gold earlier in the tournament, while Nupur Sheoran (+80kg) won silver and Pooja Rani (80kg) claimed bronze. Minakshi’s title ensures that India’s women’s boxing legacy continues to shine brightly on the world stage.
For Minakshi Hooda, this victory is undoubtedly the defining moment of her young career. At just 24, she has now become a world champion in one of the most competitive weight classes. She has demonstrated her ability to beat the very best, and her progression suggests she is poised to be one of India’s leading boxers heading into the next Olympic cycle.
Her record in Liverpool defeating opponents from China, England, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan also reflects her adaptability against diverse boxing styles. Each bout required a different tactical approach, and Minakshi executed them all to near perfection.
Indian women’s boxing has steadily grown since Mary Kom’s first world title in 2001. Over two decades later, India now boasts 15 world championship gold medals, with Minakshi becoming the latest to contribute to that tally.
What makes her achievement special is the quality of her opponent. Kyzaibay is widely regarded as one of Kazakhstan’s greatest boxers, a three-time world champion who has defined consistency at the highest level. To beat her on such a stage sends a powerful message about the depth of India’s boxing talent.
Minakshi’s triumph also underscores the growing competitiveness of India’s younger generation of boxers. After Nikhat Zareen’s back-to-back world titles and Jaismine Lamboria’s breakthrough in Liverpool, Minakshi’s gold further cements India’s reputation as a global powerhouse in women’s boxing.
Minakshi will now shift her focus towards maintaining her momentum in the run-up to future Olympic cycles. The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics loom large as the ultimate stage, and this world title will give her both confidence and recognition internationally.
For now, though, she will savor the moment. To become a world champion at 24, defeating one of the sport’s greats, and leading India to a strong medal haul is an achievement that will inspire countless young athletes back home.
In Liverpool, Minakshi Hooda proved that belief, preparation, and resilience can topple even the most decorated champions. By defeating Nazym Kyzaibay 4-1 in the women’s 48kg final, she became India’s 10th women’s world champion and only the second gold medallist of this edition for the country.
Her victory is not just a medal, but a moment of history one that will be remembered as the day India produced yet another world-beating champion in the boxing ring.
As the tricolor was raised in Liverpool, Minakshi Hooda stood tall, reminding the world that Indian boxing continues to rise, one champion at a time.
