Saturday evening kicked off the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida, with a lively opening ceremony that highlighted India’s new status as a boxing hub. The event, held at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, brought more than 120 elite fighters from 15 nations to compete in ten weight categories each for men and women.
After last year’s World Championships in Liverpool, India is hosting a major international boxing tournament for the first time on home turf. Fans and visitors were treated to a lamp‑lighting ritual, a marching parade of all participating countries, and a colourful display of music and dance that wrapped up the official opening.
The hosts opened the competition with a lineup of stars. Women’s 48‑kg world champion Minakshi Hooda faces Kazakhstan’s Bolat Akbota in a high‑stakes bout. In the 54‑kg bracket, Indian fighter Preeti meets Uzbek champion Nigina Uktamova, a Youth World Champion and Asian Games medalist. The winner will challenge Olympic medalist and top seed Huang Hsiao‑Wen of Chinese Taipei.
Men’s fights are equally thrilling. Ankush Phangal (80 kg) squares off against Japan’s Go Wakaya, a silver medalist from the 2023 Finals who is known for his reach and speed. In the heavyweight division, Narender Berwal, an Asian Games bronze medalist, goes up against Ukraine’s Andrii Khaletskyi, who won the 2025 King’s Cup gold.
Brazil’s world‑cup champion Hitesh will clash with Japan’s top seed Sewon Okazawa in a marquee 70‑kg showdown. Meanwhile, two‑time world champ Nikhat Zareen jumps straight into a semifinal face‑off against Uzbekistan’s Ganieva Gulsevar.
“There’s a lot of energy in the arena,” said BFI President Ajay Singh. “Boxing isn’t just a sport here; it’s a way of life. Every victory inspires thousands of kids to step into the ring.” Singh also welcomed the world’s best fighters, thanked the organizers, partners, and volunteers, and pledged India’s continued support for global boxing events.
Opening‑day officials and dignitaries— including Block Pramukh Surinder Singh, complex administrator Krishna, UP Sports Director R.P. Singh, and Rajya Sabha MP Surendra Singh Naagar—joined BFI Secretary General Pramod Kumar and World Boxing Secretary General Mike McAtee on stage to declare the tournament open.
The finals promise intense rivalries. With each bout carrying crucial ranking points, Indian boxers aim to boost their global standings while testing themselves against Olympic‑level competition. India already boasts six medals, including one gold, from Stage 1 in Brazil and eleven medals with three golds from Stage 3 in Kazakhstan.
The World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida will showcase skill and passion across every weight class, turning the sport into a spectacle for fans worldwide. As the fighters lace up, the world watches India’s boxing scene grow stronger, ready to make its mark on the international stage.
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