CWG 2026 Boxing: Ankush Panghal reaches 80kg final, India assured silver
Synopsis
On the same day in Glasgow, both Ankush Panghal and Preeti Pawar punched into their respective boxing finals at CWG 2026 — guaranteeing India at least two silver medals. Panghal's 5-0 demolition of Canada's Ofori was his third straight unanimous win; Preeti, ranked World No. 3, was equally dominant, forcing three standing counts against Zambia's Mwape. India's boxing contingent now stands one bout away from a historic double gold.
Key Takeaways
Ankush Panghal defeated Canada's Joshua Ofori 5-0 to reach the men's 80kg final at CWG 2026 in Glasgow on 31 July .
It was Panghal's third successive unanimous decision of the tournament; judges scored the bout 30-26 (four officials) and 29-27 (one official) .
3 Preeti Pawar also won 5-0 against Zambia's Catherine Mwape in the women's 54kg semifinal , forcing three standing counts .
Preeti became the first Indian boxer to reach a final at Glasgow 2026 and will face Canada's Scarlett Delgado for gold.
India is now guaranteed at least two silver medals from boxing at CWG 2026 .
Ankush Panghal stormed into the men's 80kg boxing final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Friday, 31 July, dismantling Canada's Joshua Ofori by a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision to guarantee India at least a silver medal. The victory was Panghal's third successive unanimous decision of the tournament, leaving him one win away from gold.
How Panghal Dominated the Semifinal
Panghal set the tone from the opening bell, controlling the tempo with crisp straight punches and powerful hooks that repeatedly pierced Ofori's guard. His sharp movement and clean combinations left the Canadian struggling to find his rhythm, earning Panghal the first round unanimously across all five judges.
The Indian tightened his stranglehold in the second round, blending accurate right hooks with swift combinations while maintaining disciplined defence. Ofori attempted a late charge in the final round and landed a left hook when Panghal briefly dropped his guard, sparking an aggressive exchange. However, the commanding lead built in the opening two rounds proved insurmountable.
The judges reflected Panghal's superiority emphatically: four officials scored the bout 30-26 and the fifth awarded it 29-27 — all in the Indian's favour.
Preeti Pawar Also Books Final Berth
Earlier on the same day, World No. 3 Preeti Pawar became the first Indian boxer to reach a final at Glasgow 2026, defeating Zambia's Catherine Mwape 5-0 in the women's 54kg semifinal. After an evenly contested opening, Preeti gradually took charge with sharp jabs and accurate left-hand punches, forcing Mwape to take a standing eight-count in the first round.
Mwape attempted to raise the tempo in the second round, but Preeti neutralised the pressure with swift footwork and clean combinations, prompting two more standing counts against the Zambian. She continued to box smartly in the final round, circling effectively and targeting the body while shutting down Mwape's attacks. All five judges awarded the bout to Preeti.
Preeti will face Canada's Scarlett Delgado in the women's 54kg gold medal bout, with India assured of at least silver in that category as well.
India's Medal Outlook in Boxing
With both Panghal and Preeti through to their respective finals, India is now guaranteed at least two silver medals from boxing at CWG 2026. Notably, this marks a strong resurgence for Indian boxing on the Commonwealth stage, with two finalists confirmed on the same day. Both bouts for gold are expected to be fiercely contested, and India's boxing contingent will be aiming to convert both silvers into gold.
Point of View
While Preeti takes on Canada's Delgado; both finals carry genuine upset risk. India has historically converted Commonwealth semifinal wins into gold less consistently than the dominant scorelines suggest. The pressure of the gold bout, not the semifinal, is where Indian boxing's mental edge gets tested.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ankush Panghal and what did he achieve at CWG 2026?
Ankush Panghal is an Indian boxer competing in the men's 80kg category at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He reached the gold medal final on 31 July after defeating Canada's Joshua Ofori 5-0 in the semifinal — his third consecutive unanimous decision victory of the tournament.
What was the scorecard in Ankush Panghal's semifinal bout?
Four of the five judges scored the bout 30-26 in Panghal's favour, with the fifth awarding it 29-27 — all five officials giving the verdict to the Indian boxer in a unanimous 5-0 decision.
Who is Preeti Pawar and which final has she qualified for?
Preeti Pawar is India's World No. 3 women's boxer in the 54kg category. She became the first Indian boxer to reach a final at Glasgow 2026, defeating Zambia's Catherine Mwape 5-0, and will face Canada's Scarlett Delgado in the gold medal bout.
How many medals is India guaranteed from boxing at CWG 2026?
India is guaranteed at least two silver medals from boxing at CWG 2026, with both Ankush Panghal (men's 80kg) and Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg) having qualified for their respective finals on 31 July in Glasgow.
What is the significance of Preeti Pawar's semifinal win?
Preeti Pawar's 5-0 victory over Zambia's Catherine Mwape made her the first Indian boxer to qualify for a final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. She dominated the bout by forcing three standing eight-counts against her opponent.
