World Boxing Cup Finals: Arundhati’s RSC and Preeti’s win propel six medalists to finals

India produced one of its strongest overall performances at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida on Wednesday, with a series of commanding wins that pushed the country into a highly favourable position ahead of the medal rounds.

Arundhati Choudhary delivered the most electrifying moment of the day. Returning to the ring after an 18-month break, she floored Germany’s triple World Championships medallist Leonie Müller twice, forcing the referee to stop the contest (RSC) in the third round, a decision reserved for bouts where one boxer’s dominance is overwhelmingly clear. The 66kg boxer said the win felt like the start of a new chapter after months of rehabilitation following wrist surgery. “I waited for this day. I wanted to return with a fight that reminds me who I am,” she said.

Adding to the momentum, rising star Preeti Pawar (54kg) shocked the arena with a breakthrough 4-0 win over three-time World Champion Huang Hsiao-Wen, marking one of India’s biggest upsets of the tournament. Her composed movement and clean counters sealed the victory and made her the sixth Indian boxer to enter the final, underlining her rapid rise on the international stage.

India’s technical finesse continued across weight categories. World Champion Minakshi Hooda (48kg) secured a confident 5-0 win over Korea’s Bak Cho-rong, mixing sharp footwork with well-timed body shots. In the heavier divisions, Ankush Phangal (80kg) produced a controlled 5-0 performance, while Nupur Sheoran (80+kg) overpowered Ukraine’s Mariia Lovchynska with sustained pressure from the opening bell.

The 60kg bout saw one of the most tightly contested fights of the day, with Parveen edging past Poland’s Aneta Elżbieta Rygielska in a 3-2 split decision. Parveen’s late surge in the final round proved decisive, reflecting her improved ring discipline and tactical maturity.

By the end of Day 3, India had eight finalists, Arundhati Choudhary, Preeti Pawar, Minakshi Hooda, Ankush Phangal, Nupur Sheoran, Parveen, Narender Berwal, and Abhinash Jamwal, marking one of India’s strongest-ever collective performances at a global boxing event. The final day now carries significant weight, with India well-placed to finish as one of the top nations of the tournament.