Greater Noida, Nov 15 (PTI) Indian boxers will look to end the season on a high while also targeting valuable ranking points when they step into the ring against a severely depleted field at the World Boxing Cup Finals beginning here on Sunday.
With World Boxing taking over as the international governing body of the sport, it introduced the World Boxing Cup series earlier this year, culminating in the Finals.
Boxers earn ranking points across all major tournaments, which plays a role in determining the seedings. With the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games scheduled next year, these points become critical.
As per the format, medallists from the three World Boxing Cups held earlier this year, along with top-ranked pugilists, qualify for the Finals. However, several top boxers are giving the tournament a miss with some weight categories featuring as few as three boxers.
While some of the countries have entered a second string team, as hosts, India, who have been granted entries in all 20 weight categories across men and women, are fielding a full strength squad.
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) headlines the women’s squad. The Telangana boxer, whose only international outing this year was a quarterfinal finish at the World Championships, will look to regain rhythm. She has received a first round bye and will take on Uzbekistan’s Gulsevar Ganieva in the last four stage.
Reigning world champions Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48kg), along with world medallist Pooja Rani (80kg) and Nupur Sheoran (+80kg), will aim to maintain their strong form.
Minakshi will kickoff the tournament taking on Kazakhstan’s Akbota Bolat in the 48kg quarterfinals.
Preeti Pawar (54kg) and Arundhati Chaudhary (70kg) return to the national fold, as does Parveen Hooda (60kg), who had been suspended for failing to report her whereabouts, and all will hope to make an impact against a fairly strong field.
Arundhati has got a first round bye, while Nupur’s weight class +80kg has just four boxers and Pooja Rani (80kg) and Saweety Boora (75kg) will straight away fight the final as their weight class has just three boxers.
On the men’s side, India endured a disappointing World Championships campaign, and hopes will be on the talented Abhinash Jamwal and Hitesh Gulia, who reached two World Cup finals earlier this year, to stand on the podium.
However, Gulia has a tough first round as he meets top seed and former World Champion and 2025 Worlds silver medallist Sewon Okazawa of Japan.
Jadumani Singh (50kg), Jamwal (65kg) have been seeded second.
Jamwal, Sachin Siwach (60kg), Jugnoo (85kg) have received first round byes.
Over 100 boxers from 18 countries, including a few Olympic medallists, will compete in the tournament at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik stadium.
World Championships silver medallist, Sewonrets Okazawa (M70kg), of Japan and gold medallist, Huang Hsiao-Wen, from Chinese Taipei, will be chasing further success in the women’s 54kg.
They will be joined by Poland’s 80kg+ World champion Agata Kaczmarska, who will compete at 80kg and Paris Olympics silver medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu (M60kg) of Kyrgyzstan.
The competition will feature 10 weight classes for both men and women.
Squad: Women: Minakshi (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Parveen Hooda (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (65kg), Arundhati Chaudhary (70kg), Saweety (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Nupur Sheoran (+80kg) Men: Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Ankush Phogat (80kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Naveen Kumar (90kg), Narender (+90kg). PTI APA APA ATK
Category: Breaking News
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