The Indian contingent for the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool has been handed a favourable draw with the likes of Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen avoiding tricky opponents early in the competition.
Olympic bronze medallist Lovlina, along with Hitesh Gulia and Abhinash Jamwal, have a bye in the opening round while Nikhat Zareen will take on Jennifer Lozano of the USA in her first bout.
Olympian Pooja Rani also has a bye in her opening round.
A 20-Indian contingent is eyeing a strong performance at the inaugural World Championships being held under the aegis of World Boxing, the new international governing body for the sport.
Both Nikhat and Lovlina come into the tournament with some impressive performances in the domestic circuit under their belts. However, neither have competed in an international event since the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Indian boxers have impressed in the two World Boxing Cup competitions in Brazil and Kazakhstan, winning a total of 17 medals, including four gold.
The World Boxing Championships will be the first time that both men’s and women’s competitions will be held together and over 544 boxers from 68 national federations will be competing in the 20 weight categories.
Jaismine Lamboria has been drawn against Ukrainian boxer Daria-Olha Hutarina in the opening round.
Hitesh and Abhinash have been placed in different halves of the draw from their closest challengers Kainan Oliveira and Yuri Falcao (both from Brazil), respectively.
Four Indian boxers are in action on the opening day of competition. Pawan Bartwal opened India’s campaign with a hard-fought split-decision (3-2) victory over Brazil’s Michael Douglas da Silva Trindade in the men’s 55kg division.
Sakshi, meanwhile, outclassed her Ukrainian opponent Viktoriia Shkeul and won her opening round bout by RSC (Referee Stopped Contest).
Sanamacha Chanu (women’s 70kg) and Harsh Choudhary (men’s 90kg) will take the ring later in the day.
World Boxing Championships 2025: Indian boxers draw
Women
- 48kg – Meenakshi Hooda (bye)
- 51kg – Nikhat Zareen vs Jennifer Lozano (USA)
- 54kg – Sakshi bt Viktoriia Shkeul
- 57kg – Jaismine Lamboria vs Daria-Olha Hutarina (UKR)
- 60kg – Sanju Khatri vs Aneta Rygielska (POL)
- 65kg – Neeraj Phogat vs Krista Kovalainen (FIN)
- 70kg – Sanamacha Chanu bt Ditte Frostholm
- 75kg – Lovlina Borgohain (bye)
- 80kg – Pooja Rani (bye)
- 80+kg – Nupur Sheoran (bye)
Men
- 50kg – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (bye)
- 55kg – Pawan Bartwal bt Michael Douglas Da Silva Trindade
- 60kg – Sachin Siwach Jr (bye)
- 65kg – Abhinash Jamwal (bye)
- 70kg – Hitesh Gulia (bye)
- 75kg – Sumit Kundu vs Mohammad Alhussien (JOR)
- 80kg – Lakshya Chahar (bye)
- 85kg – Jugnoo Ahlawat (bye)
- 90kg – Harsh Chaudhary vs Adam Tutak (POL)
- 90+kg – Narender Berwal vs Martin McDonagh (IRL)