Nine out of ten women return with medals from U19 Asian Boxing Championships Bangkok; men’s finals yet to come
Bangkok, August 10, 2025: India’s teenage women pugilists delivered a statement of intent at the U19 Asian Boxing Championships 2025, returning with a remarkable haul of nine medals from ten entries. On Sunday, Nisha (54 kg) and Muskan (57 kg) clinched gold medals, five others claimed silver, and two secured bronze, underlining the nation’s rising stature in continental boxing alongside heavyweights Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China.
The result marks one of India’s best all-round performances in the women’s section at this level, signalling a deep talent pool that has been nurtured through domestic tournaments, youth camps, and international exposure.
Golden Start: Nisha and Muskan Shine
The final day of the women’s competition began on a high for India when Nisha opened the gold account in the second bout of the day. Facing China’s Sirui Yang, Nisha fought a tactical opening before raising her intensity in the third and final round to take control. Her clean counter-punches and ringcraft earned her a deserved 4:1 verdict.
Muskan followed with a gritty performance in the 57kg final against Kazakhstan’s Ayazhan Ermek. Starting aggressively, the Indian southpaw kept pressing in the middle rounds to edge a 3:2 split decision. The win capped a memorable week for Muskan, who had earlier overturned a deficit against China’s Jiaen Wang in the semifinals with a dominant final round.
Close Fights in the Silver Bracket
While two finals ended with gold for India, five more produced silver-medal finishes after closely contested bouts.
In the 60 kg final, Vini met Uzbekistan’s Sevara Mamatova, a technically sharp opponent who managed to control the pace, forcing the Indian into a defensive stance and securing the win. At 65 kg, Nisha faced Japan’s Arinda Akimoto in a physically demanding clash. Although she held her ground in the early stages, the Japanese boxer’s late surge secured a 4:1 result.
In the heavier divisions, Aarti Kumari (75 kg) went down to China’s Tongtong Gu, while Kritika Wasan (80kg) pushed Kazakhstan’s Kuralay Yeginbaikyzy to the wire before losing 2:3. In the super-heavyweight 80+ kg category, Parchi Tokas was edged out 2:3 by Uzbekistan’s Sobirakhon Shakhobidinova despite a spirited third-round rally.
Bronze Medalists Add to the Tally
Two more women Yashika (51 kg) and Akanksha Phalaswal (70 kg) added bronze medals to the tally after strong runs that ended in the semifinals.
India’s medal rush was built on an outstanding semifinal day (August 8), where the contingent booked ten finals spots, including seven in the women’s draw. Nisha (54 kg) set the early tone with a commanding 5:0 win over Japan’s Himari Watanabe. Vini (60 kg) defeated China’s Ruixue Li with a composed performance, while Nisha (65 kg) overcame Ziyue Bao, also of China, with measured aggression.
Muskan’s semifinal win over Jiaen Wang of China was among the highlights, turning a tight fight in her favor with relentless attacks in the final round. Aarti Kumari’s power punching forced a second-round stoppage against Vietnam’s Thanh Tuyen Tran in the 75 kg bout, while Parchi Tokas edged Kazakhstan’s Zhaksylyk Sanina 3:2 in the 80+ kg bracket. Kritika (80 kg) advanced directly to the final due to the draw.
Men’s Contingent Still in the Hunt
The men’s U19 squad also enjoyed a strong run, with three boxers, Mausam Suhag (65 kg), Rahul Kundu (75 kg), and Hemant Sangwan (90 kg), set to contest gold later on Sunday. All three had registered dominant semifinal victories. Mausam overwhelmed Iran’s Akshan Hashemi 5:0, Rahul blanked Kazakhstan’s Shildebay Nursultan with the same score, and Hemant controlled China’s Qirui He in another unanimous win.
Bronze medals in the men’s U19 category have already been secured by Shivam (55 kg) and Gaurav (85 kg).
U22 Success Running Parallel
The U19 and U22 Asian Boxing Championships are being held simultaneously in Bangkok, offering India’s emerging talents a platform to test themselves against some of Asia’s best. India has fielded 40 boxers in total, 20 in each age category, blending experienced campaigners with fresh prospects. The U22 contingent has already guaranteed 13 medals, with five finalists in action on Monday.
Final U19 Women’s Medal Tally for India:
- Gold: Nisha (54kg), Muskan (57kg)
- Silver: Vini (60kg), Nisha (65kg), Aarti Kumari (75kg), Kritika Wasan (80kg), Parchi Tokas (80+ kg)
- Bronze: Yashika (51kg), Akanksha Phalaswal (70kg)
India’s performance in Bangkok reflects not just individual talent but a sustained investment in the youth system. Regular national camps, exposure tours, and high-intensity domestic competitions have created a deep bench of fighters capable of holding their own against Asia’s traditional boxing powerhouses. As the men’s finals approach and the U22 category enters its medal rounds, India’s combined medal tally from the championships is expected to rise, further reinforcing the nation’s emergence as a major player in Asian boxing at both junior and youth levels.
