India’s boxing contingent progressing in Glasgow
India’s boxing contingent is making significant progress at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Among the notable performances, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam secured a dominant victory to advance to the quarter-finals, while Preeti Panwar also moved into the quarter-finals, placing her one win away from a medal.
Jadumani Singh Mandengbam delivered an assured performance in the men’s 55kg boxing category, defeating Pakistan‘s Sumama Rehman. The Indian boxer won by a unanimous 5-0 decision in their Round of 16 bout on Sunday, securing his spot in the last eight. This victory follows his earlier convincing win against Scotland‘s Aaron Cullen in the Round of 32, marking an impressive start to his campaign.
The opening round of the contest between Jadumani and Rehman was closely fought, with both boxers exchanging punches. Rehman utilized his height and reach advantage, while Jadumani countered with quick footwork and combinations. The judges narrowly favored Jadumani after the first round. However, the intensity increased in the second round, where Jadumani established greater control and scored a knockdown on Rehman, shifting the momentum in his favor. He maintained this advantage through the final stages, earning a unanimous verdict from all five judges.
The Manipur boxer, who previously won a silver medal in the 50kg division at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Noida last year before moving to the 55kg category, showcased his speed and composure. He was also the first Indian boxer to compete in the ring at the Glasgow Games. Jadumani is now set to face England‘s Ellis Trowbridge in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. A victory in this match would guarantee him a medal, as both losing semi-finalists in Commonwealth Games boxing receive bronze medals.
Preeti Panwar and other medal hopefuls
In the women’s 54kg category, Preeti Panwar advanced to the quarter-finals with a dominant win over Deborah Mtenje of Malawi. The 22-year-old boxer from Bhiwani secured a Referee Stop Contest (RSC) decision in the second round of her Round of 16 bout on Sunday. Mtenje received two standing counts, one in each round, leading the referee to stop the contest with 47 seconds remaining in the second round. Preeti had also received the unanimous nod from all five judges in the first round.
Preeti, an Asian Games bronze medallist and a gold medallist at the New Delhi World Cup last year, expressed her intent to assess her performance in the ring during her first bout. She will now face Northern Ireland‘s Nicole Clyde in the quarter-finals on Tuesday. Clyde secured her spot by defeating Ghana‘s Nancy Bamfo by unanimous decision in her pre-quarterfinal match. The two boxers have previously trained together as sparring partners in Belfast ahead of the Games.
India has already secured its first confirmed boxing medal at the Games through Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain in the women’s 75kg division. Lovlina received a direct bye into the semi-finals, automatically guaranteeing her at least a bronze medal. She is scheduled to compete against Tuvalu‘s Tarona Khanum Badi Pasoni Taafaki in the semi-finals on July 31, with a place in the gold medal bout at stake.
Another Indian boxer, Sachin Siwach, also progressed in the men’s 60kg division. Siwach advanced from the Round of 32 after a 4-1 split decision victory over Canada‘s Keoma Al-Ahmadieh. The 26-year-old from Bhiwani, Haryana, is set to face England‘s William Hewitt on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals. India’s boxing team for Glasgow consists of 14 members, with seven male and seven female boxers, and expectations for a strong medal haul remain high.
With Jadumani in the last eight, Lovlina guaranteed a medal, and Siwach continuing his campaign, the Indian boxing contingent remains a strong contender across multiple weight categories as the competition progresses in Glasgow.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
