India’s elite boxers continued to stamp their authority at the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships, with reigning world champion Minakshi Hooda, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, and World Boxing Cup gold medalist Hitesh Gulia cruising into the semifinals with commanding performances at the Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, on Thursday.
The ongoing championships have already marked a significant milestone for Indian boxing, as this is the first time that the men’s and women’s National Championships are being staged simultaneously at the same venue. The scale of the competition reflects the depth of talent across the country, with over 600 boxers competing across 10 weight categories each in the men’s and women’s sections.
In the women’s light flyweight (45–48kg) quarterfinals, world champion Minakshi Hooda of the All India Police showcased her class and composure, securing a unanimous 5:0 verdict over Punjab’s Kashish Mehta. Minakshi, who has been one of the most consistent performers on the domestic and international circuit over the past two years, controlled the bout from the opening bell with sharp combinations and disciplined defence, leaving little room for her opponent to build momentum.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen was equally dominant in the women’s 48–51 kg category, blanking Manipur’s Lanchenbee Chanu Tongbram 5:0. The Telangana boxer dictated the pace throughout the contest, using her footwork and timing to keep her opponent at bay while landing clean scoring punches. Nikhat’s performance reaffirmed her status as one of the standout figures in Indian women’s boxing, particularly in high-pressure knockout bouts.
In the men’s competition, World Boxing Cup gold medallist Hitesh Gulia produced a composed display in the 65–70kg quarterfinals, defeating Punjab’s Tejaswi by a unanimous 5:0 decision. Hitesh’s ability to manage distance and control exchanges proved decisive, as he steadily accumulated points across all three rounds to book his place in the semifinals.
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Several other prominent names also progressed smoothly through the quarterfinal stage. World Boxing Cup Finals silver medallist Pawan Bartwal (men’s 50–55 kg), Jadumani Singh (50–55 kg), and Sachin (55–60 kg) all registered unanimous victories in their respective bouts. Pawan overcame Arunachal Pradesh’s Tyson, Jadumani defeated Punjab’s Nikhil, and Sachin got the better of Uttar Pradesh’s Karan, each boxer displaying tactical maturity and ring awareness to close out their contests convincingly.
In the women’s 51–54 kg quarterfinals, Preeti delivered a dominant performance to defeat Punjab’s Harmeet Kaur Virk 5:0, while Sakshi edged past Poonam of RSPB in a closer contest, winning 4:1 to secure her place in the semifinals.
The path to the semifinals was paved by equally dominant displays on Wednesday, when the competition reached the quarterfinal stage. Nikhat Zareen had earlier made a statement of intent by forcing a referee stoppage against Ladakh’s Kulsooma Bano in the first round of their women’s 48–51 kg bout, underlining her attacking prowess and sharp finishing ability.
Pawan Bartwal continued his strong run in the men’s 50–55 kg category on Wednesday as well, defeating Lalit in a bout that was stopped in the third round. Sumit, competing in the men’s 70–75 kg division, also advanced emphatically after his contest against Madhya Pradesh’s Kapil was halted in the third round, reflecting his clear dominance in the ring.
World champion Minakshi Hooda, meanwhile, had opened her campaign with a comfortable 5:0 win over Jharkhand’s Annu in the women’s 45–48kg category, setting the tone for her subsequent quarterfinal success. In another notable result from the earlier rounds, Jadumani Singh registered a convincing 5:0 victory over Uttar Pradesh’s Manish Rathore in the men’s 50–55kg category, while 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal overcame Chandigarh’s Krrish Pal by a 4:1 margin.
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With the semifinals now set, the championships are moving into a decisive phase, where domestic supremacy and selection implications will come sharply into focus. For established names like Nikhat, Minakshi, and Hitesh, the National Championships offer a platform to reaffirm their dominance and fine-tune their form ahead of upcoming international assignments. For emerging boxers, strong performances against seasoned opponents present an opportunity to stake a claim for future national representation.
As the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships continue in Greater Noida, the early rounds have already highlighted the growing competitiveness of Indian boxing. The combination of experienced world-level performers and hungry young challengers has set the stage for high-quality bouts in the semifinals and finals, with national titles and pride firmly on the line.
