New Delhi: In a mixed day for India at the World Boxing Championships, two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen and debutant Minakshi progressed to the quarterfinals, while four male boxers bowed out of the competition.
Competing in her first international tournament since the Paris Olympics, Nikhat faced a tough women’s 51kg round of 16 bout against Japan’s Yuna Nishinaka. Despite a scrappy contest marked by frequent clinches from Nishinaka, Nikhat secured a unanimous decision, with the referee docking Nishinaka two points for excessive holding.
“Not a very good bout though I won by unanimous decision. But I am really happy to enter the quarterfinal,” said Nikhat. She will next face two-time Olympic silver medallist and 2022 world light flyweight champion Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu in what promises to be her toughest challenge yet.
Minakshi, competing in the 48kg non-Olympic category, received a first-round bye and began her campaign with a commanding 5-0 win over China’s Wang Qiuping. After a cautious first round, Minakshi adapted to Wang’s aggression and dominated the remaining rounds with precise long-range boxing.
Meanwhile, the Indian men’s contingent continued to struggle. Lakshya Chahar (80kg) became the seventh male boxer to exit, losing 0-3 to France’s Yojerlin Cesar in the round of 16. This followed Monday’s triple setback, with Sumit Kundu (75kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90kg) all eliminated in the pre-quarterfinals. Sumit went down 5-0 to Bulgaria’s Rami Kiwan, while Sachin and Narender lost 1-4 to Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen and Italy’s Diego Lenzi, respectively.
Nikhat’s and Minakshi’s victories provide a bright spot for India, keeping hopes alive for medals in the women’s categories, while the men’s side faces a critical period of reflection ahead of upcoming international events.
