Indian Boxers Shine at Commonwealth Games 2026, Advancing to Semifinals
Indian Boxers Excel in Semifinals
On Wednesday, Indian boxers Ankush and Narender Berwal made their way to the semifinals of the Commonwealth Games 2026. Ankush triumphed over Seychelles' Jade Micock with a decisive 5-0 victory in the men's 80kg quarterfinal, while Narender narrowly defeated Samoa's Michael Seko in a thrilling men's 90+kg match, as reported by ESPN.
Ankush's Commanding Performance
Ankush showcased his skills right from the beginning, taking charge with aggressive punches and strategic movement. He landed a powerful left hook in the first round, earning unanimous support from all five judges. The 19-year-old Micock found it challenging to keep up with Ankush's pace in the second round, where the Indian continued to dominate with effective left-hand strikes, again winning all judges' favor.
As the semifinal approached, Ankush adopted a more cautious strategy in the final round, avoiding unnecessary risks while maintaining control over his opponent. He secured the bout with another unanimous 5-0 decision, ensuring India a medal.
Narender Berwal's Nail-Biting Victory
Narender Berwal also confirmed his medal by reaching the men's 90+kg semifinals after a closely contested match against Michael Seko. He won with a 3-2 split decision in a nail-biting encounter that kept spectators on the edge of their seats.
Both boxers displayed signs of exhaustion in the final round, but Narender landed a pivotal blow that prompted the referee to initiate a count against Seko. Although the Samoan boxer managed to recover, Narender's performance was enough to impress the judges, securing another medal for India.
A Successful Day for Indian Boxing
Narender's victory marked the fifth Indian boxer to reach the semifinals on this eventful day for the Indian boxing team in Glasgow. Earlier, Sachin Siwach advanced to the men's 60kg semifinals after defeating Botswana's Treasure Moremi by unanimous decision, while Arundhati Choudhary and Sakshi Chaudhary also secured their spots in the semifinals.
India's Current Medal Count
As of now, India has accumulated a total of 12 medals, comprising two gold, seven silver, and three bronze. The medalists include:
- Mirabai Chanu (Gold, Weightlifting)
- Sharmila Dhankar (Gold, Women's Shot Put F57)
- Rishikanta Singh (Silver, Weightlifting)
- Muthupandi Raja (Silver, Weightlifting)
- Gyaneshwari Yadav (Silver, Weightlifting)
- Sarvesh Kushare (Silver, Men's High Jump)
- Gulveer Singh (Silver, Men's 10,000m)
- Harjinder Kaur (Silver, Weightlifting)
- Valluri Ajaya Babu (Silver, Weightlifting)
- Bindyarani Devi (Bronze, Weightlifting)
- Shilpa K. Shyla (Bronze, Women's Shot Put F57)
- Jhandu Kumar (Bronze, Para Powerlifting)