Indian Boxers Shine at Asian Games: Bronze Medals for Pokhariya and Ghanghas, Lovlina Advances to Final
Kapil Pokhariya Claims Bronze
Indian boxer Kapil Pokhariya secured a bronze medal in the men's 90 kg division at the Asian Games taking place in Aichi-Nagoya on Wednesday. He faced a tough opponent in Uzbekistan's Turabek Khabibullaev, who won by a split decision of 4-1, as reported by ESPN. Turabek, a reigning world champion and bronze medalist from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, dominated the match, winning the first round decisively with a score of 5-0 and following it up with a 4-1 victory in the second round. Ultimately, the judges favored Turabek, confirming his win through a split-decision vote. This achievement marks India's 57th medal at the Asian Games, contributing to a total of nine golds, 21 bronzes, and now a 27th bronze.
Priya Ghanghas Secures Bronze
In another bout, Priya Ghanghas, who previously won gold at the Commonwealth Games 2026, also settled for a bronze medal after losing to China's Yang Chengyu in the women's 60 kg semifinal. Yang started aggressively in the first round, while Priya managed to counter effectively, landing several punches. However, Yang ended the round strong, earning a 3-2 decision from the judges, according to ESPN. In the second round, both boxers exchanged blows, but Yang's early flurry helped her win the round 4-1. Priya struggled in the final round, with Yang maintaining a solid defense, leading to another 4-1 round win for the Chinese boxer, leaving Priya with a bronze.
Lovlina Borgohain Advances to Final
Following these bouts, Lovlina Borgohain progressed to the women's 75 kg final after a narrow victory over Kazakhstan's Natalya Bogdanova, winning by a split decision of 3-2. The match was highly competitive, with Lovlina initially taking a cautious approach. Bogdanova claimed the first round 3-2, but Lovlina rebounded in the second round, landing effective punches and showing increased aggression, which earned her a 5-0 decision. In the final round, while Bogdanova pressed forward, Lovlina focused on her defense and counter-attacks, ultimately securing a 3-2 split decision victory.