India enjoyed its most commanding day yet at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, with eight boxers entering the gold-medal round across the afternoon and evening sessions at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex.
The headline moment came from Preeti Pawar (54kg), who produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament by defeating Olympic medalist and three-time World Champion Huang Hsiao-Wen of Chinese Taipei via split decision. Preeti’s composed, incisive performance set the tone for a remarkable day in which Arundhati Choudhary, Minakshi Hooda, Nupur Sheoran, Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda, Narender Berwal, and Abhinash Jamwal also advanced to the finals, while Saweety Boora and Naveen Kumar secured bronze medals after hard-fought losses.
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Facing one of the most decorated active boxers in the world, Preeti approached the bout with tactical clarity and confidence. She edged a tight first round by striking on the counter and preventing Huang from establishing her preferred rhythm. The Indian then dictated the second round through superior movement, repeatedly cutting off angles and denying the Taiwanese star any sustained offence. A clean one-two in the closing minute of the third round reinforced her control as she clinched a defining victory.
“I knew she was a world champion, but to become a world champion you must beat a world champion,” Preeti said afterwards. “The crowd gave me so much confidence. I came here with the mindset of giving my 100 per cent, and I’m glad I showed that today.”
The win sends Preeti into her first World Cup Final and marks the biggest triumph of her career to date.
Arundhati Announces Her Return in Style
Earlier in the afternoon session, Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) delivered a statement of her own, overpowering Germany’s Leonie Müller who medalled at all three stages of the 2025 World Boxing Cup via RSC. Returning to international competition after an 18-month layoff following wrist surgery, Arundhati fought with both precision and conviction. She dropped Müller once in the second round and again in the third, forcing a stoppage and sealing her place in the final with one of the most dominant performances of the tournament.
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Reigning world champion Minakshi (48kg) continued her flawless run with a 5:0 unanimous decision over Korea’s Bak Cho-rong. Her speed, accuracy, and defensive sharpness ensured she remained in control across all three rounds. In the 60kg semifinal, Parveen Hooda delivered a tense but impressive win over Poland’s World Cup silver medalist Elzbieta Rygielska, prevailing 3:2. Parveen’s ring generalship in the final round proved decisive.
Nupur Sheoran (80+kg) maintained her momentum with a measured, composed victory against former European Champion Mariia Lovchynska of Ukraine. Nupur’s tactical discipline and clean counters secured yet another Indian place in the finals.
Completing a strong afternoon, Ankush Panghal (80kg) outboxed Australia’s Marlon Sevehon in a commanding unanimous decision, displaying superior tempo and pressure.
Abhinash and Narender Join the Finalists; Saweety, Naveen Claim Bronze
In the evening session, Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) opened his campaign with a crisp, calculated performance against Ukraine’s Elvin Aliiev, winning via unanimous decision to book his place in the final. Heavyweight Narender Berwal (90+kg) followed with a split-decision win over Kazakhstan’s Daniyal Saparbay, using physical strength and sharp inside exchanges to secure India’s eighth finalist of the day.
There were setbacks too:
- Saweety Boora (75kg) exited after a unanimous decision defeat to Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree.
- Naveen Kumar (90kg) suffered a loss to Scotland’s Isaac Okoh but ensured India another podium finish with a bronze.
Day 4: Nikhat Zareen, Jaismine Lead India’s Charge
The action intensifies on Day 4, with nine Indian boxers attempting to join the growing list of finalists. Leading the lineup are two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg), who faces Uzbekistan’s Gulsevar Ganieva, and World Champion Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), who meets Kazakhstan’s Ulzhan Sarsenbek.
Also stepping into the ring will be Neeraj Phogat (65kg), Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Sachin (60kg), Sumit (75kg), and Hitesh (70kg). With India already assured of multiple medals, the contingent will look to build on one of the strongest collective World Cup campaigns in recent years.
