Liverpool: India wrapped up their campaign at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool with a rich haul of four medals, including two golds, as Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda were crowned world champions.
According to Olympics.com, Jaismine (women’s 57kg) and Minakshi (women’s 48kg) clinched gold, while Nupur Sheoran (80+kg) secured silver and Olympian Pooja Rani (80kg) bagged bronze.
On Saturday, Jaismine stunned Olympic medalist Julia Szeremeta of Poland in the 57kg final, winning 4-1 by split decision. After a strong start from the Paris 2024 silver medallist, Jaismine turned the tide in the second round, using her reach and composure to dominate.
“This feeling cannot be expressed, I am so happy to be a world champion. After my early exit at Paris 2024, I worked hard on my physical and mental game. This is the reward for a year of consistency,” she said.
Her journey to the title included four consecutive 5-0 wins against top opponents — Paris Olympian Omailyn Alcala (Venezuela), Khumoranobu Mamajonova (Uzbekistan), Brazil’s two-time Olympian Jucielen Romeu, and Ukraine’s Daria-Olha Hutarina.
On Sunday, Minakshi added a second gold for India, edging past Paris 2024 bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan 4-1 in the 48kg final. With these wins, Jaismine and Minakshi became the first Indian boxers to be crowned champions under the newly formed World Boxing body.
Earlier champions like Mary Kom, Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain had won their titles under the previous governing body.
Among the other finalists, Nupur Sheoran narrowly lost 2-3 to Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska in the 80+kg final, while veteran Pooja Rani settled for bronze after a 1-4 semifinal loss to England’s Emily Asquith.
In total, 20 Indian boxers competed at the championships, including Olympic medallists Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen, both returning to action after Paris 2024. Borgohain exited in the second round of the 75kg event, while Zareen reached the 51kg quarterfinals before losing to Turkey’s two-time Olympic silver medallist Buse Naz Cakiroglu.
