Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Jan 7: India’s elite boxers delivered commanding performances on Wednesday as several big names advanced to the quarterfinals of the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 gold medallist Pawan Bartwal, and Sumit stamped their authority with one-sided victories in their respective bouts. Most other top contenders also progressed comfortably, underlining the gap between experienced internationals and their early-round opponents.
This edition of the championships is historic, as it marks the first time the men’s and women’s National Championships are being conducted simultaneously at the same venue. Around 600 boxers from across the country are competing, with 10 weight categories each for men and women.
In the women’s 48–51kg division, Nikhat was in complete control against Ladakh’s Kulsooma Bano, forcing the referee to stop the contest in the opening round due to her overwhelming dominance. In the men’s competition, Pawan (50–55kg) outclassed Lalit, while Sumit (70–75kg) defeated Madhya Pradesh’s Kapil, with both bouts being halted in the third round.
Earlier in the day, reigning world champion Minakshi (45–48kg) continued her strong run, registering a convincing 5:0 verdict over Jharkhand’s Annu.
In other men’s bouts, Jadumani Singh produced a clinical display to beat Uttar Pradesh’s Manish Rathore 5:0 in the 50–55kg category. Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal also advanced, edging past Chandigarh’s Krrish Pal by a 4:1 decision.
The competition on Tuesday had seen similar dominance from several top boxers. World Championship bronze medallist Pooja Rani and international boxer Jadumani Singh secured straightforward wins, while Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and seasoned campaigner Amit Panghal were tested more severely.
Pooja (75–80kg) of Haryana shut out Chandigarh’s Anju with a clean 5–0 scoreline, while Jadumani’s bout against Tamil Nadu’s R Parthiban ended early, with the referee stopping the contest in the second round due to his clear superiority.
Lovlina, however, had to dig deep against Assam’s Saweety, eventually prevailing 3–2 in a closely fought split decision. In the men’s section, representing SSCB, Amit Panghal faced stiff resistance from Haryana’s Priyanshu before scraping through with a narrow 3–2 split verdict.
With the quarterfinals now set, the championships are poised for high-intensity clashes as India’s top boxing talent continues its quest for national glory.