In the opening day of the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, India’s top fighters made a resounding statement. Minakshi, Preeti, Ankush Phangal and Narender Berwal all stood on the podium after a series of clean and decisive wins, turning the first round into a triumph for the country.
The competition at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex hosted only the world’s eight best boxers in each category, so every bout was hard‑fought. Minakshi, the gold medallist from Liverpool 2025, rattled her opponent from Kazakhstan, Bolat Akbota, from the opening bell. Her high‑tempo punches kept the crowd on its feet and earned a 5‑0 victory.
Preeti followed with an electric performance in the 54‑kg division. Using quick footwork and sharp combinations, she overran Uzbekistan’s former Youth World Champion Nigina Uktamova. Her full‑attacking style delivered a comfortable win, again with a 5‑0 score.
Later in the afternoon, Ankush Phangal steadied the charge. He survived early pressure before unleashing precise combos that kept Japan’s Go Wakaya at bay. Phangal’s calm and focused game plan gave him a unanimous 1‑0 win in the 80‑kg bout.
In the super‑heavyweight class, Narender Berwal fought with grit. Despite a cut above his eye, he defended persistently and landed body‑head combos that outclassed Ukraine’s Andrii Khaletskyi. Berwal finished with a 4‑1 victory, proving that determination can overcome adversity.
Day 2 keeps the momentum. Early in Session 2 at 2 PM, Pawan Bartwal (55‑kg) will face Kazakhstan’s Altynbek Nursultan, a rising star who recently claimed gold at the World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025. Sumit (75‑kg) will square off against South Korea’s Kim Hyeon‑tae, known for his counter‑pressure style. In the 90‑kg quarterfinal, Naveen Kumar will tackle Kazakhstan’s powerhouse Tangatar Bekzat.
Later that evening in Session 3, two high‑profile clashes await. Jadumani Singh (50‑kg), a medallist from Brazil 2025, will go head‑to‑head with Kazakhstan’s Ongarov Nurzat. The evening’s headline fight features Hitesh (70‑kg) taking on top seed Sewon Okazawa, the 2022 Asian Games medallist and one of the most polished boxers in the field.
While Indian boxers dominated, other national teams also produced strong showings on Day 1. Poland’s Wiktoria Rogalińska dispatched Ukraine’s Inna Statkevych 5‑0 in the 54‑kg bracket. Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova earned a sweeping 5‑0 win over Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata in the 70‑kg category. Men’s contenders from Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Australia also captured decisive victories in their respective weight classes, further highlighting the global depth of talent at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025.
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