India has secured its first medals at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, with Nupur Sheoran and Jaismine Lamboria both advancing to the semifinals. Their victories mark a high point for the Indian contingent on a day, which also saw two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen bow out of the competition.
In the women’s 80+kg quarterfinals, Nupur defeated Uzbek boxer Oltinoy Sotimboeva with a 4-1 verdict. Nupur, who had a cautious start, navigated a messy contest that saw both boxers penalized a point. However, her ability to connect with counters and land punches more frequently in the final round secured her the win. Nupur, a gold medallist from the World Cup Stage-II in Astana this year, will now face Turkey’s Seyma Duztas in the semifinals. Her father, Sanjay Singh Sheoran, expressed immense pride, stating that his late father, boxing legend Hawa Singh, "would be cheering from the heavens."
In the 57kg quarterfinals, Jaismine put on a dominant performance to outshine Uzbekistan’s Khumorabonu Mamajonova with a unanimous 5-0 verdict. Jaismine, who hails from the extended family of Hawa Singh, effectively used her counter-punching skills, footwork, and long arms to stay ahead in all three rounds. National coach D Chandralal highlighted her tactical growth, saying, “once she attacks, she can move freely and control the bout with combinations of punches.” Jaismine will next face Venezuelan Olympian Omailyn Alcala.
While the women’s team celebrated, the men’s contingent faced a tough day. Four Indian boxers: Lakshya Chahar, Sumit Kundu, Sachin Siwach, and Narender Berwal, were all knocked out in their respective pre-quarterfinals. The most significant setback was Nikhat Zareen’s 0-5 loss to Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, an opponent she had been preparing to face for years.
The two medals for Nupur and Jaismine are a source of pride for the Indian boxing community. Their success continues the legacy of Hawa Singh, a two-time Asian Games champion, and proves that despite challenges, the country's boxers can compete at the highest level. Both Nupur and Jaismine are now guaranteed at least a bronze medal, with a chance to upgrade to silver or gold in their upcoming semifinal bouts.