2026 Asian Boxing Championships: Indian Women Dominate Semifinals, Six Men Advance
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Ulaanbaatar, April 5 (NationPress) On the seventh day of the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia, the Indian women's boxing squad showcased their dominance as Meenakshi and Jaismine each secured unanimous victories in the morning session. Their achievements guaranteed medals for all Indian women boxers still in contention, with each advancing to the semifinals. Additionally, triumphs by Lokesh, Akash, and Harsh Choudhary enabled six Indian men’s boxers to progress to the semifinals.
In the women's 48kg category, Meenakshi executed a confident performance, defeating Japan's Yuka Sadamatsu with a decisive 5-0 decision, highlighting her effective combinations and strong ring presence. Likewise, Jaismine displayed her strength in the 57kg division, overpowering China's Ziyi Chen with a commanding 5-0 victory to secure her semifinal spot.
This marks an exceptional run for the Indian women, with every competitor winning a medal, showcasing the team's robustness and reliability on the continental stage.
In the men's division, Lokesh (85kg) progressed with a clear 5-0 win against South Korea's Gichae Kim, demonstrating control and accuracy throughout the match. Akash also clinched a dominant 5-0 victory over Turkmenistan's Yhlas Bagtyyarov, while Harsh Choudhary triumphed against Kyrgyzstan's Tynystan Alybaev, advancing to the semifinals.
Currently, India has six boxers in the men's semifinals, reflecting a strong overall performance across all categories. However, Ankush (80kg) faced elimination after losing to Jordan's Hussein Iashaish.
The Indian campaign at the Asian Championships is gaining momentum as several semifinal bouts approach.
Earlier on Saturday, Ankushita Boro achieved a significant 4-1 victory over Laura Yessenkeldi (KAZ) in the women's 65kg category, exhibiting composure and strength to reach the semifinals. She is set to face Nien-Chin Chen from Chinese Taipei, the 2025 World Boxing Finals gold medalist and Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medalist, in a crucial semifinal matchup.