India’s boxing contingent has made a strong start at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with Preeti Pawar and Ankush Panghal securing their places in the finals of their respective categories. Their victories on Friday mean India has opened the semifinal day with a 2-0 record in boxing, with eight additional Indian boxers scheduled to compete for spots in their gold medal bouts.
These wins guarantee India at least two more silver medals, as both boxers are now one step away from achieving Commonwealth Games gold.
Panghal dominates Canadian rival
Ankush Panghal delivered a notable performance in the men’s 80kg semifinal, defeating Canada‘s Joshua Ofori by unanimous decision. Having previously overcome Seychelles‘ Jade Micock to reach the semifinals, Panghal quickly established control.
He dictated the first round with precise combinations, superior footwork, and accurate punching, earning a 5-0 verdict from all five judges. Despite Ofori’s attempts to increase intensity in the second round, Panghal maintained control with crisp counter-attacks.
Ofori’s frustration led to a point deduction for a blow to the back of the head. Panghal comfortably secured another unanimous round. In the third round, he remained composed under pressure, combining solid defence with timely scoring punches to seal a convincing victory and advance to the gold medal bout.
This win ensures India at least a silver medal in the men’s 80kg category.
Pawar’s commanding performance
Earlier in the day, Preeti Pawar set the tone for India’s campaign by advancing to the women’s 54kg final with a dominant victory over Zambia‘s Catherine Mwape. The southpaw controlled the bout from the outset, forcing a standing count in the first round and sweeping it 5-0, with three judges awarding 10-8 scores.
Pawar further solidified her lead in the second round, again forcing a standing count as she outboxed Mwape. Although Mwape became more aggressive in the final round, Pawar remained calm, landing clean left-right combinations and body shots to secure another unanimous decision victory.
Following her bout, Preeti Pawar dedicated her assured medal to the people of India. She acknowledged the final would require further preparation, stating she would develop her game plan accordingly and give her best. She also expressed gratitude to fans across the country for their support, noting that the medal was for everyone who had high hopes and offered prayers and blessings.
Pawar is scheduled to face Canada‘s Scarlett Delgado in Saturday’s gold medal contest. She will aim to add a Commonwealth Games title to her previous achievements, which include World Cup and Asian Championships crowns this year.
India surpasses previous medal haul
India’s boxing momentum continues to build, with the country’s tally of assured medals reaching 10, surpassing its overall boxing haul from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. In Birmingham, India secured seven boxing medals, comprising three gold, one silver, and three bronze.
Six additional pugilists advanced to the semifinals, joining Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), and Jadumani Singh (55kg) in the last four of their respective categories. These boxers include Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Ankush Panghal (80kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg), and World champion Jaismine Lamboria (57kg).
Sakshi Chaudhary secured a 5-0 victory over Northern Ireland’s Caitlin Fryers. Sachin Siwach, ranked world No. 5, also won by a 5-0 margin against Botswana’s Treasure Moremi. Arundhati Choudhary earned a 3-1 win against New Zealand’s Morgan Henderson.
Ankush Panghal‘s path to the semifinals included a 5-0 unanimous decision over Seychelles’ Jade Micock. Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal secured a 3-2 victory against Samoa’s Michael Seko in a challenging contest. In the final bout of the day, Jaismine Lamboria, a bronze medallist from Birmingham, defeated England’s Elise Glynn 4-1 in the women’s 57kg quarterfinal, ensuring she will at least match her previous bronze medal finish.
Sakshi Chaudhary effectively used her height and reach advantage, controlling her contest with sharp jabs and straight punches. Arundhati Choudhary maintained her composure in a physical battle, landing cleaner scoring punches to secure her semifinal spot. Sachin Siwach, a former world youth champion, demonstrated control with cleaner hooks, crisp counters, and superior timing. Narender Berwal’s powerful combinations in a bruising heavyweight quarterfinal ultimately led to a narrow 3-2 split-decision victory.
Preeti Pawar will compete in the gold medal contest on Saturday.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
