NewzVille Sports Desk
India signed off with its best-ever performance at the World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, bagging a rich haul of 11 medals – three gold, five silver, and three bronze – Â to better its six-medal tally from the Brazil leg.
The women led from the front, with Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sakshi (54kg), and Nupur (80+kg) delivering knockout performances to clinch gold. All three posted dominant wins in their respective finals to underline India’s growing prowess in women’s boxing.
Sakshi, a two-time youth world champion, was clinical in the 54kg final, sealing a unanimous decision. Jaismine, bound for the Paris Olympics, edged out Brazilian veteran and two-time Olympian Jucielen Romeu in a closely contested 57kg bout.
Nupur was at her aggressive best in the 80+kg category, overpowering home favourite Yeldana Talipova with a commanding 5-0 verdict to wrap up India’s gold medal count on the final day.
Meenakshi came agonisingly close to gold in the 48kg division, going down 2:3 in a tight final against Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, while Pooja Rani (80kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) settled for silver after finishing runners-up in their respective weight classes.
Sanju (60kg), Nikhil Dubey (75kg), and Narender (90+kg) chipped in with bronze, ensuring India finished among the top-performing nations in a field of over 400 boxers from 31 countries.
India’s 20-member squad put up a spirited display throughout the week, with the triple-gold finish on the final day capping a memorable campaign for the boxing contingent.
