Asian Boxing Championships 2026: Nikhat Zareen, Priya Ghanghas, Preeti Pawar assured of medals with march into semi-finals

Indian boxers confirmed three medals at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 on Friday after Nikhat Zareen, Priya Ghanghas and Preeti Pawar marched into the semi-finals with impressive victories in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Nikhat Zareen was the first to confirm a medal for India in the women’s 51kg after outclassing Xian Baguhin of the Philippines via RSC (Referee Stops Contest).

The 29-year-old Zareen will face the People’s Republic of China’s Wu Yu, the Paris 2024 gold medallist, in the semi-finals.

Nikhat Zareen was handed a bye in her opening round thanks to her top seeding.

In the women’s 60kg division, Priya Ghanghas defeated China’s 2025 World Championships bronze medallist Yang Chengyu 4-1. She will next take on Mongolia’s Namuun Monkhor for a place in the final.

Meanwhile, in the women’s 54kg category, Preeti Pawar, the gold medallist at the World Boxing Cup Finals, defeated Mongolia’s Munguntsetseng 5-0.

Preeti will face the Republic of Korea’s Im Aeji, the Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist, in the semi-final.

Earlier in the tournament, Vishvanath Suresh (men’s 50kg) and Sachin (men’s 60kg) won their opening round bouts at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026. 

Deepak, who won his opening round bout in the men’s 70kg category earlier in the tournament, exited the competition following a 4-1 defeat to Jordan’s Zeyad Eashash in the quarter-finals.

Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and reigning world champions Minakshi Hooda and Jaismine Lamboria, as well as Olympian Pooja Rani, are also a part of India’s squad and will open their campaign later.

India sent a 20-member boxing squad for the continental championships. Indian boxers who reach the finals in approved weight categories will secure direct qualification for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

The ongoing Asian Boxing Championships features 194 boxers, including more than 20 Olympians, from 21 national federations.

Indian boxers, including Olympian Amit Panghal, two-time Commonwealth Games medallist Mohammad Hussamuddin, reigning CWG champion Nitu Ghanghas and former Asian champ Parveen Hooda, are not competing in Mongolia.

READ MORE: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/asian-boxing-championships-2026-india-day-5-report