India’s emerging boxing stars once again showcased their growing strength on the international stage as the nation wrapped up a successful campaign at the World Boxing Cup Stage 2 in Guiyang, China, with a haul of six medals. Leading the charge was Jyoti, whose remarkable run culminated in a gold medal, helping India finish the tournament with one gold, three silver and two bronze medals. The performance highlighted the depth of talent within the Indian boxing contingent and reinforced the country’s status as a rising force in world boxing.
The biggest moment of India’s campaign came in the women’s 48kg final, where Jyoti produced a flawless display against Uzbekistan’s Farzona Fozilova. Facing the reigning World Boxing Cup Brazil champion, the Indian boxer dominated proceedings from the opening bell and secured a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision victory. The triumph marked India’s only gold medal of the competition and underlined Jyoti’s growing reputation as one of the country’s most promising international boxers. Jyoti’s road to the title was far from easy.
In the semi-finals, she overcame Mexico’s Fatima Herrera in a closely contested 3-2 bout to secure her place in the gold medal match. Herrera had earlier earned a silver medal at the World Boxing Cup in Brazil, making Jyoti’s victory a significant statement ahead of the final. Her performances throughout the tournament demonstrated composure, tactical awareness and the ability to deliver under pressure.
India’s medal tally was further boosted by three silver-medal finishes. World No. 1 Minakshi, who usually competes in the 48 kg category, stepped up to the Olympic 51kg division and impressed throughout the competition. Her campaign included a notable victory over Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Alua Balkibekova in the quarter-finals, one of the standout results of the tournament for India. However, Minakshi fell short in the final, losing 0-5 to China’s Wu Yu and settling for silver.
Prachi also delivered an impressive campaign in the women’s 57kg division. One of her biggest achievements came in the quarter-finals when she stunned Paris Olympic bronze medallist Shih Yi Wu of Chinese Taipei with a 4-1 victory. The upset victory guaranteed India a medal and highlighted Prachi’s potential against elite international opposition. She eventually finished with silver after suffering a 0-5 defeat against Uzbekistan’s Nigina Uktamova in the final.
In the men’s competition, Deepak emerged as one of India’s standout performers in the 70kg category. The Indian boxer advanced to the final after defeating Azerbaijan’s Nabi Isgandarov by unanimous decision in the semi-finals. Despite a determined effort in the gold medal bout, Deepak was unable to overcome Kazakhstan’s experienced Ablaikhan Zhussupov and finished with a silver medal.
India’s bronze medals were won by Nikhil in the men’s 55kg category and Jugnoo in the 85kg division. Nikhil impressed during his campaign with a dominant 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan’s Amin Mammadzada to reach the semi-finals before eventually securing a podium finish. Jugnoo also displayed resilience and consistency to add another bronze medal to India’s tally.
The six-medal performance reflected the strong bench strength that Indian boxing continues to develop across both men’s and women’s categories. Significantly, several of the medal winners were competing against reigning world champions, Olympic medallists and top-ranked international opponents, highlighting the progress being made by Indian boxers on the global circuit.
For India, the World Boxing Cup Stage 2 proved to be another encouraging chapter in a year filled with strong international results. With athletes such as Jyoti, Minakshi, Prachi and Deepak delivering standout performances, the tournament offered further evidence that the next generation of Indian boxers is ready to challenge the world’s best and build momentum ahead of future global competitions.
