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India’s 20-member boxing team received a favourable draw at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, aiming for strong medal performances.
World Boxing Championships 2025: Pawan Bartwal (BFI)
Indian boxers Pawan Bartwal and Sakshi Chaudhary achieved contrasting victories on the opening day of the World Boxing Championships on Thursday.
Sakshi, a World Boxing Cup gold medallist, progressed to the women’s 54kg pre-quarterfinals with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) win against Ukraine’s Viktoriia Shkeul, who was making her senior debut.
Leveraging her height advantage, the Indian boxer dominated with a series of combinations, prompting the referee to issue three standing counts before stopping the contest in the second round.
Bartwal, making his debut on the big stage, overcame the Paris Olympian and 2023 Pan American Games silver medallist Brazil’s Michael Douglas da Silva Trindade 3-2 in a scrappy contest that shifted from one corner to the other.
The Indian started the in the men’s 55kg opening round bout by landing a sharp jab early and increasing the pace towards the end of the opening round, edging out Trindade 3-2.
The Brazilian responded in the second round, pushing Bartwal onto the back foot with a series of powerful punches as both boxers engaged heavily in messy exchanges. Trindade edged out the Indian to take the round, leaving the bout finely balanced.
However, Bartwal regained control in the final round, unleashing relentless combinations and finishing strongly to secure victory.
Later in the day, Sakshi (54kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), and Harsh Choudhary (90kg) will commence their campaigns.
The Indian boxers have been given a favourable draw, with medal contenders Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), two-time champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg), and Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (70kg) avoiding challenging opponents early in the competition.
While Gulia, Jamwal, and Lovlina have received a bye in the opening round, Nikhat will face Jennifer Lozana of the USA.
Gulia and Jamwal are positioned in different halves of the draw from their closest challengers Kainan Oliveira and Yuri Falcao (both from Brazil).
Among other medal contenders for India, Sakshi (54kg) will begin her campaign against Viktoriia Shkeul of Ukraine, while Commonwealth Games medallist Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) may face a tough second-round battle against Brazil’s 2023 Pan American Games champion Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu if she progresses past Daria-Olha Hutarina of Ukraine in the opening round.
Meenakshi Hooda (48kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Nupur Sheoran (80+kg), Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), and Jugnoo Ahlawat (85kg) are other boxers who have received first-round byes.
First round clashes of Indian players
Women’s
- 48kg – Meenakshi Hooda vs bye
- 51kg – Nikhat Zareen vs Jennifer Lozana (USA)
- 54kg – Sakshi vs Viktoriia Shkeul (UKR)
- 57kg – Jaismine Lamboria vs Daria-Olha Hutarina (UKR) next round upcoming Brazilian Jucielen Cerqueira Romeu
- 60kg – Sanju Khatri vs Aneta Rygielska (POL)
- 65kg – Neeraj Phogat vs Krista Kovalainen (FIN)
- 70kg – Sanamacha Chanu vs Ditte Frostholm (DEN)
- 75kg – Lovlina Borgohain vs bye
- 80kg – Pooja Rani vs bye
- 80+kg – Nupur Sheoran vs bye
Men’s
- 50kg – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam vs bye
- 55kg – Pawan Bartwal vs Michael Douglas Da Silva Trindade
- 60kg – Sachin Siwach Jr vs bye
- 65kg – Abhinash Jamwal vs bye
- 70kg – Hitesh Gulia vs bye
- 75kg – Sumit Kundu vs Mohammad Alhussien (JOR)
- 80kg – Lakshya Chahar vs bye
- 85kg – Jugnoo Ahlawat vs bye
- 90kg – Harsh Chaudhary vs Adam Tutak (POL)
- 90+kg – Narender Berwal vs Martin McDonagh (IRL)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
September 04, 2025, 22:26 IST
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