Golden punch: India bags 20 medals at World Boxing Cup finals

India delivered a landmark performance at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida, sweeping the competition with a record 20 medals, including nine gold. The achievement marked the first time India has won medals in every weight category at a global event, showcasing depth across both the men’s and women’s squads.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the contingent on X, writing: “Our phenomenal athletes delivered an extraordinary, record-breaking performance at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025! They brought home an unprecedented 20 medals including 9 Golds. This is due to the resolve and determination of our boxers. Congratulations to them. Best wishes for the endeavours ahead.”

The tournament, which concluded the inaugural World Boxing Cup series introduced earlier this year by World Boxing, featured medallists from the previous three legs and top-ranked athletes directly seeded into the quarterfinals. As hosts, India entered a full-strength squad across all 20 divisions.

Although India’s sweep was historic, the tournament itself featured a reduced international field, with several leading boxing nations not competing at full strength. Some weight categories also saw limited participation, allowing certain boxers to advance directly to the medal rounds. Despite this, India maximised every opportunity, delivering decisive performances in key bouts and showcasing notable individual comebacks.

The women’s team led the campaign with seven gold, one silver, and two bronze, while the men contributed two gold, five silver, and three bronze. The consistency across divisions ensured India converted every entry into a podium finish.

The event also marked inspiring returns. Preeti Pawar (54kg), recovering from a prolonged battle with Hepatitis A, delivered one of the standout performances of the tournament. She defeated reigning world champion Huang Hsiao-wen of Chinese Taipei and world bronze-medallist Sirine Charrabi of Italy to claim gold.

Parveen Hooda, back in competition after serving a whereabouts-related suspension, also struck gold with a convincing win over world silver-medallist Aneta Rygielska of Poland.

For Nikhat Zareen, two-time world champion, the tournament brought renewed confidence. Her gold, her first international podium since last year’s Elorda Cup, signalled a timely return to form after months of injury setbacks and a challenging season.

Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh praised the outcome, emphasising that the event offered Indian boxers both valuable match exposure and crucial ranking points ahead of major competitions.

The World Boxing Cup Finals concluded with India making a powerful statement on home soil, celebrating dominance across divisions, rewarding resilience, and highlighting the rising strength of Indian boxing on the global stage.