Boxing: Indian boxers hoping to make history at Boxing World Championships 2025
Pawan Bartwal gives India positive start to World Boxing Championship
Nearly 600 boxers from across almost 70 countries arrived in Liverpool this week to participate in the 2025 World Boxing Championship, the first tournament of its kind under the new international global body, World Boxing.
After impressive showings at the World Boxing Cups in Brazil and Kazakhstan, India are looking forward to a strong campaign in the UK, where they have sent 20 of their best boxers to represent the nation, including Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain and World champion Nikhat Zareen.
Of the 20-member contingent, four Indian boxers were scheduled to compete on the opening day of the competition, and Pawan Bartwal got the team off to the perfect start, beating Brazil’s Michael Douglas da Silva in the men’s 55kg division as the underdog with the best Indian betting sites.
Sakshi Chaudhary, Sanamacha Chanu and Harsh Choudhary are also slated to feature on the opening day in the 54kg, 70kg and 90kg divisions, respectively, while Hitesh Gulia and Borgohain both received byes directly to the second round.
The World Boxing Championship will continue over the next 10 days and will follow a straight knockout format, with the winner of each bout progressing. The losing semi-finalists will receive bronze medals.
India’s 20-member squad for World Championships
While Borgohain and Zareen are widely expected to carry the bulk of India’s hopes of winning medals at the World Boxing Championship, there are still plenty of athletes who could return from Liverpool with the coveted metal around their necks.
India men: Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach Jr (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo Ahlawat (85kg), Harsh Chaudhary (90kg), Narender Berwal (90+kg).
India women: Meenakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (54kg), Jasmine Lamboria (57kg), Sanju Khatri (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (60kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Nupur Sheoran (80+kg).
