Indian boxer Jaismine Lamboria has etched her name into history, clinching the featherweight gold medal at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. Capping off a dominant campaign, the 24-year-old defeated Paris Olympics silver medallist Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the 57kg final. With this victory, Jaismine becomes the ninth Indian boxer to be crowned a world champion, joining an elite list of decorated athletes.
After a cautious start, Szeremeta, a shorter but fast-moving boxer, won the opening round by a narrow margin. However, Jaismine roared back in the second round, adjusting her rhythm to control the distance and unleash crisp combinations. Her ability to use her reach and defend stoutly proved to be the difference. The final verdict, a 4-1 split decision in her favor (30-27, 29-28, 30-27, 28-29, 29-28), brought a brief yell of triumph from the usually serene Jaismine, whose eyes glistened during the medal ceremony as the Indian national anthem played.
While Jaismine celebrated her gold, India's medal haul continued with Nupur Sheoran and Pooja Rani also finishing on the podium. Nupur, competing in the 80+kg category, walked away with a silver medal after a narrow 2-3 defeat to Poland's Agata Kaczmarska. Despite a height advantage, Nupur found it difficult to impose herself on the bout, as her opponent's aggression and body blows wore her down. A stunning uppercut from Kaczmarska in the final round sealed the victory.
Earlier, the seasoned Pooja Rani, competing in the 80kg category, secured a bronze medal after a 1-4 split decision loss to local favorite Emily Asquith in the semifinals. Pooja started strong, but Asquith quickly adapted her game plan, using sharper counters and a more aggressive style to turn the tide of the contest.
India's campaign at the World Championships was a testament to the growth of women's boxing in the country. The team secured a total of four medals, with Minakshi also winning a bronze in the 48kg category. This strong showing reinforces India’s position as a formidable force in women’s boxing, with a new generation of champions now taking the lead on the world stage.