Two-time youth world champion Sakshi opened India’s gold medal tally at the World Boxing Cup 2025 in Astana, Kazakhstan, with a commanding win in the women’s 54kg category on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Indian pugilist delivered a dominant performance against USA’s Yosline Perez, securing a unanimous decision from the judges with her aggressive approach, swift footwork, and well-timed combinations.
Sakshi’s triumph marked a high point for the Indian contingent, which has already assured itself of 11 medals at the Kazakhstan leg of the tournament.
In the earlier Brazil leg, India had clinched six medals, including one gold and one silver.
In Sunday’s opening session, four Indian boxers stepped into the ring, with Sakshi emerging as the standout performer.
Her win brought a wave of celebration to Team India’s camp, setting the tone for the rest of the day.
However, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Meenakshi put up a spirited fight in the women’s 48kg final but narrowly lost to Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay in a split 3:2 decision.
In other bouts, Jugnoo (men’s 85kg) and Pooja Rani (women’s 80kg) both settled for silver medals after losing their finals by unanimous decisions.
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Jugnoo went down 0:5 to Kazakhstan’s Bekzad Nurdauletov, while Pooja was defeated by Australia’s Eseta Flint by the same margin.
The Indian medal count could rise further, with four more boxers — Hitesh Gulia (men’s 70kg), Abhinash Jamwal (men’s 65kg), Jaismine (women’s 57kg), and Nupur (women’s 85+kg) — set to compete for gold in the evening session.
Gulia, who won gold in the Brazil leg, is expected to lead the final charge.
