Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], November 20 (ANI): India delivered its greatest-ever performance on the global stage, clinching nine gold medals on a landmark final day of the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in front of a roaring home crowd.
In a statement of dominance across key Olympic-class divisions, India’s women led the charge with a historic sweep, while two gold-medal wins in the men’s section added to a defining campaign for the host nation. India finished the campaign with nine gold, six silver, and five bronze medals, with each of the 20 participating pugilists securing a podium finish, as per a press release from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
The day belonged to India’s women, who produced a golden wave with Minakshi (48kg), Preeti (54kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Nupur (80+kg) securing a gold each in the afternoon session; Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), and Parveen (60kg), all climbed to the top of the podium in the evening session. With the Los Angeles Olympics set to introduce gender parity across weight categories, Indian women’s dominance on the final day further highlighted the nation’s rising stature in world boxing.
On winning a gold medal, Minakshi Hooda, while speaking to ANI, said, “This medal is not only mine. It is the medal of the whole of India. It is the medal for my team. I will continue to train hard. I will make the country proud. This year was very good for me. It was the best year of my life.”
“The tournament that India has hosted, I would like to tell you that we have been to 3 World Cups and World Championships. The facilities in this tournament we didn’t get anywhere, including Liverpool, and the prize money is from Aiba, and this is from World Boxing. I am fine. I have just won a gold medal and I am feeling good. But yes, everyone likes the prize money,” Nupur Sheoran said.
“I felt deja vu, and I was pleased to win today’s final match in front of the home crowd. I am delighted that, finally, after a very long break, I could again start my golden journey. I will keep working hard and I will try to win gold medals and make India proud,” Nikhat Zareen told ANI.
The evening’s highlight belonged to World Champion Jaismine Lamboria, who stunned Paris Olympic medalist Wu Shih Yi 4:1 in a blockbuster final. Fighting with swagger and composure, she imposed her rhythm early with flowing combinations and absorbed late pressure with poise to claim one of India’s biggest wins of the event.
Two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen dismantled Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi Xuan 5:0 with vintage precision and ring control, while Parveen delivered a gritty 3:2 triumph over Japan’s Ayaka Taguchi with sharp counters and superior movement.
Earlier in the day, Minakshi opened the medal rush with a commanding 5:0 win over reigning Asian Champion Farzona Fozilova, showcasing blistering pace, razor-sharp accuracy, and airtight defence, including a stunning left-right combination that set the tone from Round 1. Preeti followed with another emphatic 5:0 sweep, overpowering Italy’s World Championships medalist Sirine Charrabi through constant pressure and clean scoring blows.
Arundhati Choudhary–on a remarkable comeback after 18 months–dominated Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova with a decisive 5:0 win built on precise jabs, disciplined defence, and complete tactical control. Nupur edged a cagey 3:2 battle against Uzbekistan’s Sotimboeva Oltinoy, sealing her maiden World Boxing Cup Finals title with clutch shot-making in the final round.
India’s men added two more gold medals to cap a dominant home campaign. Sachin (60kg) produced a flawless 5:0 win over Kyrgyzstan’s Munarbek uulu Seiitbek, blending accuracy, momentum control, and clean punching. The most dramatic victory of the finals came from Hitesh (70kg), who overturned an early deficit to edge Kazakhstan’s Nurbek Mursal 3:2 in a thrilling bout, roaring back in Rounds 2 and 3 with heavy counters and a composed finish.
Speaking on his final fight with Hitesh Gulia said, “I lost the first round 4-1. He [Nurbek Mursal] is a good boxer. He was playing long range. So I had to play a little ahead of him. So I understood in the first round. So I covered in the second round the second round was 3-2. So I had to go all out in the third round. If it was 5-0, I would have lost. So I went all out in the third round.”
“I focused on my shortcomings. I focused on that and increased my training. I increased my attack and leg movements. I made a few mistakes, but overall I was 100%,” Gold medalist Sachin said.
India added six silvers through Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), and Ankush Phangal (80kg), all of whom produced commendable runs in one of the strongest fields ever assembled in World Boxing Cup history. Narender Berwal (90+kg) battled hard but settled for silver after a 5:0 loss to Uzbekistan’s powerful Khalimjon Mamasoliev, while Pooja Rani went down fighting to World Boxing Cup medalist Agata Kaczmarska in the women’s 80kg final.
Beyond India’s historic gold rush, the remaining finals delivered standout performances from several global powerhouses. Australia’s Emma-Sue Greentree impressed with a dominant 5:0 win over Italy’s Melissa Gemini in the women’s 75kg final, while Olympic medalist Chen Nien-Chin of Chinese Taipei produced a clinical 4:1 victory in the women’s 65kg division.
Uzbekistan dominated multiple divisions, with Asilbek Jalilov (50kg), Samandar Olimov (55kg), Javokhir Abdurakhimov (75kg) and Mamasoliev (90+kg) all clinching gold through commanding displays. England celebrated two champions–Shittu Oladimeji, who overpowered Ankush at 80kg, and Isaac Okoh, who secured the 90kg crown–while Japan’s Shion Nishiyama prevailed 4:1 in the men’s 65kg final and Kazakhstan’s Sultanbek Aibaruly topped the 85kg men’s section. (ANI)
