India’s campaign at the inaugural World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool saw contrasting fortunes on Saturday.
While two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and Sachin Siwach advanced comfortably to the round of 16, Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and newcomer Hitesh Gulia bowed out earlier than expected, raising questions about consistency and preparation at the elite level. After a year without international competition, Nikhat Zareen showed no signs of rustiness as she opened her campaign in the women’s 51kg category with a clinical 5:0 unanimous decision win over Jennifer Lozano of the USA.
The 29-year-old, a double world champion and one of India’s most reliable performers in recent years, dictated the pace from the opening bell. Her sharp footwork and precision punching kept Lozano on the backfoot throughout, ensuring a dominant verdict. Nikhat now faces a sterner test in the round of 16 against Japan’s Yuna Nishinaka, a boxer known for her quick counters. The Indian, however, will enter the bout with confidence, having shown her trademark aggression and composure in her opener.
Sachin Siwach Impressive in Men’s 60kg
India had more reasons to cheer in the evening session when Sachin Siwach (men’s 60kg) produced a commanding performance to defeat Australia’s Jacob Cassar by unanimous decision (5:0). Siwach, who has been in good form following his recent international stints, displayed sharp combinations and excellent ring control. His ability to close down angles and force Cassar onto the defensive proved decisive.
The 23-year-old will now face Zhexen Biibars of Kazakhstan in the round of 16. Given Kazakhstan’s strong boxing tradition, the contest is expected to be a true test of Siwach’s progress at this level.
Lovlina’s Early Exit Raises Questions
Perhaps the biggest disappointment for India came in the women’s 75kg category, where Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain suffered a 0:5 defeat against Busra Isildar of Turkey in the pre-quarterfinals. Lovlina, who entered the bout as a favourite, struggled to find rhythm. She relied too much on clinching and failed to land enough clean shots to trouble her opponent. Isildar, in contrast, maintained steady aggression and connected with clearer punches, securing a unanimous decision.
The loss is particularly concerning given Lovlina’s stature and experience. Having won medals at the Olympics and World Championships before, her performance in Liverpool lacked the intensity and sharpness expected at this stage. With Paris 2024 behind her and Los Angeles 2028 still three years away, the Indian star will need to reset and re-establish consistency.
Hitesh Gulia Falls at First Hurdle
In the men’s 70kg division, Hitesh Gulia was knocked out in the preliminaries after a 1:4 loss to Finn Robert Bos of the Netherlands.
Gulia’s downfall was once again a slow start an issue that has troubled him in the past. While he grew into the contest in the later rounds, Bos had already done enough to tilt the judges’ scorecards in his favour. The result was disappointing, as Gulia had shown promise at the domestic level and was expected to make a deeper run in Liverpool.
Other Results and Performances
India had mixed fortunes in other bouts over the first two days of the competition:
- Jaismine Lamboria (women’s 57kg) started her campaign with a convincing 5:0 win over Daria-Olha Hutarina of Ukraine.
- Narender Berwal (men’s +90kg) defeated Ireland’s Martin McDonagh 4:1 in the opening round.
- On the women’s side, Sanju Khatri (60kg) bowed out after a 0:5 defeat against Aneta Rygielska of Poland.
Looking ahead, India still has several boxers in contention. Pawan (55kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), and Lakshya Chahar (80kg) are yet to play their round of 32 bouts. Meanwhile, Pooja (80kg) and Nupur (80kg+) will begin their campaigns directly from the quarterfinal stage thanks to smaller draws in their categories.
So far, five of India’s ten male boxers have secured places in the round of 16, while in the women’s division, six have progressed.
The World Boxing Championships 2025 is the first global event organised under the banner of World Boxing, the newly formed governing body after the split from the International Boxing Association (IBA). The competition has drawn strong participation, with established boxing nations like Cuba, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China sending full-strength squads. For India, the early trend suggests a mix of promise and concern. While younger boxers like Nikhat and Siwach have looked sharp, established names like Lovlina have struggled. The men’s middleweight and welterweight divisions, in particular, appear to be problem areas, with India yet to produce consistent results.
With the round of 16 approaching, India will hope that Nikhat continues her march toward a potential third world title, while Siwach carries his momentum against tougher opposition. For the rest of the squad, the challenge will be to convert early promise into medals, something India has struggled with in past World Championships.
The Liverpool outing has already provided valuable insights. Technical adjustments, sharper starts, and mental resilience under pressure remain areas of improvement. Still, the presence of multiple Indians in the last 16 shows the depth that the country is building.
The opening weekend of the World Boxing Championships 2025 has delivered both encouragement and disappointment for India. Nikhat Zareen’s flawless return and Sachin Siwach’s confident win highlight the potential of the current squad. On the other hand, Lovlina Borgohain’s early exit and Hitesh Gulia’s faltering start underline the inconsistencies that still need to be ironed out. As the tournament progresses, Indian boxing will look for more names to step up and ensure that Liverpool becomes not just a stage for participation, but for podium finishes.
