Indian Boxers Shine at Asian Games 2026
In a thrilling day for Indian boxing at the Asian Games 2026, Parveen Hooda and Ankush Panghal advanced to the finals after impressive performances in their respective semifinals. Unfortunately, Narender Berwal had to settle for a bronze medal after losing in the men’s +90 kg category on Tuesday.
Parveen Hooda faced off against China’s Li Shu in the women’s 65kg semifinal, winning decisively with a score of 5-0. She began the match by narrowly winning the first round 3-2, but then stepped up her game, comfortably taking the next two rounds 5-0 to secure her spot in the final.
Ankush Panghal delivered a remarkable performance against Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Erkinboev in the men’s 80kg semifinal. Trailing 1-4 after the first round, Ankush rallied back to win the second round 3-2 and then dominated the final round 5-0, ultimately winning the bout 4-1. This victory is particularly notable as Erkinboev is the reigning world champion in the 75kg category, making Ankush’s comeback all the more impressive.
This achievement makes Ankush the first Indian male boxer to reach an Asian Games final since Amit Panghal claimed gold in the 49kg category at the 2018 Jakarta Games.
Looking ahead, Parveen will compete against Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei for the gold medal. This final appearance marks a significant milestone for her, as it surpasses her previous performance at the last Asian Games, where she won a bronze that was later stripped due to a suspension. Now, Parveen joins the ranks of Indian women’s boxing greats, alongside MC Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain, who have also made it to the finals.
On a somber note, Narender Berwal faced tough competition against Kazakhstan’s Aibek Oralbay, the reigning super heavyweight world champion, and lost 0-5 after a competitive match where he was unable to overcome Oralbay’s powerful punches.
With these results, India has secured six boxing medals at the ongoing Asian Games, surpassing the five medals they earned in the previous edition. The excitement is high as Parveen and Ankush aim for gold in their upcoming finals.
