Minakshi Hooda secured a gold medal in the women's 48kg category. In a fiercely contested final on Sunday, defeated Kazakhstan's Nazym Kyzaibay with a 4-1 decision, avenging her previous defeat to the same opponent at the Astana World Boxing Cup in July. Minakshi's victory makes her the second Indian woman to win a gold, following Jaismine Lamboria’s triumph in the 57kg category.
The Indian women's team delivered an impressive overall performance, finishing with two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal. The men's team, however, drew a blank. Minakshi's gold-medal bout was a strategic masterclass, as her taller frame and ability to move in and out of range gave her a 4-1 advantage in the opening round. While the more experienced Kyzaibay, a Paris 2024 bronze medalist, closed the gap to edge the second round 3-2, Minakshi's composure and superior fitness allowed her to find her rhythm and land decisive punches from a distance in the final round.
Her victory over Kyzaibay holds special significance, as it was seen as a redemptive win after a controversial loss at the Astana World Cup, which the Indian camp believed was influenced by home advantage. Minakshi's head coach, Chandralal D, had previously stated that despite the silver, she deserved to be on the same pedestal as gold medalists.
For Minakshi, the win is a culmination of a remarkable journey. Born to an auto-rickshaw driver in Rurki, she has overcome humble beginnings to consistently win medals at every international tournament she has entered. Her coach, Vijay Hooda, recalled her starting with "borrowed shoes and training gear,". Her father, Srikrishna, who continues to ferry passengers in his auto-rickshaw, shared, "She only had the passion and willpower to box and that’s what has made her go so far. I could only support her dreams in whatever way I could."
While the 48kg category is a non-Olympic category, winning a World Championship gold, especially against a three-time World Champion and Olympic medalist, is a significant achievement. Minakshi’s superior fitness was a key factor, as it allowed her to push through the final round even as her opponent faded. As coach Chandralal D noted, "In the last round we asked her to use three-punch combinations because we knew at least one would land."