Did Nikhat Zareen, Pawan Bartwal, and Sumit Achieve Dominant Victories to Enter Quarters?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nikhat Zareen and others demonstrate dominance in their matches.
- This historic event features both men’s and women’s categories.
- 600 boxers are competing at Gautam Buddha University.
- Established champions are facing tough competition.
- Victories are crucial for eligibility in international events.
New Delhi, Jan 7 (NationPress) Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen, World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 gold medallist Pawan Bartwal, and Sumit showcased their prowess by overpowering their opponents. Meanwhile, other leading athletes also secured straightforward victories to advance to the quarterfinals of the Elite Men and Women National Boxing Championships held at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, on Wednesday.
This event marks the inaugural occurrence of the men’s and women’s National Championships being conducted concurrently at the same venue, featuring 600 boxers from all over the country competing across 10 weight categories for both genders.
In the women’s 48-51kg division, the referee halted the match between Nikhat and Kulsooma Bano from Ladakh in the first round due to the overwhelming performance of the boxer from Telangana. Pawan (men’s 50-55kg) triumphed over Lalit, and Sumit (men’s 70-75kg) defeated Madhya Pradesh’s Kapil, with both contests ending in the third round.
Earlier, world champion Minakshi (women’s 45-48kg) continued her impressive run with a commanding 5:0 victory against Annu from Jharkhand.
In the men’s 50-55kg category, Jadumani Singh achieved a comfortable 5:0 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Manish Rathore, while 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal bested Chandigarh’s Krrish Pal 4:1.
On Tuesday, World Championship bronze medallist Pooja Rani and international competitor Jadumani Singh recorded effortless wins, while Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain and seasoned veteran Amit Panghal faced tougher challenges to progress.
Pooja (75–80kg) of Haryana outclassed Anju from Chandigarh 5–0, asserting her dominance, while Jadumani (50–55kg) was so authoritative against R Parthiban from Tamil Nadu that the referee ended the match in the second round.
However, two other established stars found the competition more intense. Saweety pushed Assam’s Lovlina to her limits before the experienced boxer secured a narrow 3–2 victory in a split decision.
In the men’s section, former Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (50–55kg), representing SSCB, narrowly defeated Priyanshu from Haryana with a 3–2 split decision.