India’s boxing contingent delivered a strong performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Wednesday, with five boxers securing victories and advancing to the semifinals. This flawless day ensured that all Indian boxers who competed on Wednesday progressed, bringing the total number of Indian semifinalists in boxing to nine.
This achievement guarantees India a minimum of nine bronze medals in the Glasgow boxing competition, surpassing the country’s medal tally from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, where India secured seven boxing medals, including three gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Five Wins on Wednesday
The winning streak on Wednesday began with Sakshi Choudhary in the women’s 51kg quarterfinal. She delivered a dominant performance against Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers, controlling the bout from the outset. Choudhary utilised her reach advantage and sharp combinations to maintain distance from Fryers, ultimately securing a unanimous 5-0 victory. Following the bout, Choudhary stated that her strategy was to box from long range, which she considers her forte, while Fryers attempted to fight from close range and clinch.
Despite Fryers’ aggressive attacks, Choudhary remained composed, effectively using her superior footwork and ringcraft to dictate the pace. She kept Fryers at bay with crisp, accurate jabs and well-timed straight punches. The bout saw frequent clinches, with both boxers getting tangled at close quarters, even tumbling to the canvas during one exchange in the second round. However, Choudhary maintained control throughout the contest, sealing a comfortable victory.
Next, Arundhati Choudhary faced a more challenging encounter in the women’s 70kg quarterfinal against New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson. After a closely contested bout, Arundhati displayed composure to secure a 3-1 victory, earning her place in the semifinals.
Former world youth champion Sachin Siwach continued India’s strong showing in the men’s 60kg quarterfinal. He outclassed Botswana’s Treasure Moremi with a composed display, winning the bout 5-0 by unanimous decision. Siwach dominated all five judges’ scorecards, securing his semifinal berth and at least a bronze medal.
In the men’s 80kg quarterfinal, Ankush Yadav, last year’s World Boxing Cup Finals silver medallist, extended India’s winning streak. He delivered a commanding performance against Seychelles’ Jade Micock, securing a 5-0 unanimous decision to book his spot in the semifinals. Yadav’s speed, movement, and superior combinations proved too much for his opponent. He maintained control throughout the contest, winning 30-26 on one judge’s card and 30-27 on the remaining four, sealing a unanimous verdict.
The final Indian boxer to complete the five-in-five sweep on Wednesday was Narender Berwal. He battled past Samoa’s Michael Seko in a dramatic men’s 90+kg quarterfinal. The contest was marked by repeated referee interventions and two point deductions against Berwal. Despite these challenges, Berwal showed resilience, forcing standing counts twice on Seko, including in the decisive final round. The judges ultimately ruled 3-2 in Berwal’s favour on a split decision, allowing him to advance.
Nine Semifinalists Assured
The five victories on Wednesday brought the total number of Indian boxers in the semifinals to nine. These five joined Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jadumani Singh (55kg), who had already secured their semifinal berths. With nine boxers now guaranteed medals, India has made history in Glasgow, ensuring at least nine bronze medals from the boxing competition at the Commonwealth Games.
The total of nine semifinal spots has already eclipsed India’s boxing medal tally from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
