Preeti Pawar Advances to Final at Asian Boxing Championships 2026
Indian Boxers Shine at Asian Championships
Ulaanbaatar [Mongolia], April 6: Preeti Pawar, India’s Bantamweight star, triumphed over Korea's Aeji Im, a bronze medallist from the Paris Olympics, securing her spot in the 54kg Elite Women’s final at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 on Monday.
Joining Preeti in the finals are fellow Indian boxers Priya and Arundhati Choudhary, who both emerged victorious in their semifinal matches, as reported by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
In the semifinal for the women’s 54 kg, Preeti, who previously clinched gold at the World Boxing Cup Finals, showcased a strategic and effective performance.
She is set to compete against Huang Hsiao-wen from Chinese Taipei, a three-time World Champion (2019, 2023, 2025) and bronze medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, in a highly anticipated gold medal match.
In the women’s 60kg division, Priya delivered an impressive performance, defeating Namuun Monkhor from Mongolia with a unanimous 5-0 decision, earning her place in the final against North Korea’s Un Gyong Won.
Meanwhile, in the women’s 65kg category, Ankushita Boro faced a setback, losing 0-3 to Nien-Chin Chen from Chinese Taipei, a bronze medallist from the Paris Olympics. The match was briefly halted due to a power outage after the first round, and the outcome was determined based on points.
In the women’s 70kg category, Arundhati secured a 4-1 victory over Oysha Toirova from Uzbekistan, demonstrating skill and poise as she advanced to the final, where she will meet Kazakhstan’s Bakyt Seidish.
In the women’s 51kg category, Nikhat Zareen was defeated 0-5 by Wu Yu from China, the reigning Olympic champion and a dominant force in her weight class, during the semifinals.
Lovlina Borgohain also faced defeat in the women’s 75kg category, losing 0-5 to Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova, a bronze medallist at the World Championships in the 70kg category, known for her aggressive fighting style.
In the women’s 80kg category, Pooja Rani exited the competition after a 0-5 loss to Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets, a bronze medallist from the 2023 World Championships and a seasoned competitor.
With four Indian boxers already reaching the finals, the country’s campaign continues with two more semifinal matches in the women’s 48kg and 57kg categories scheduled for April 7.