Deepak, Naman strike gold medals in Thailand Open

Deepak and Naman Tanwar spearheaded India’s campaign at the 4th Thailand Open International Boxing Championship, securing two golds on Sunday as part of an impressive eight-medal haul

Hyderabad: Deepak and Naman Tanwar spearheaded India’s campaign at the 4th Thailand Open International Boxing Championship, securing two golds on Sunday as part of an impressive eight-medal haul.

Competing against tough international opponents—and despite limited exposure or experience—the Indian boxers delivered a standout week of performances.

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Deepak clinched the men’s 75kg gold with a 5:0 win over Abdurakhimov Javokhir of Uzbekistan, while Naman Tanwar got the better of China’s Han Xuezhen 4:1 in the 90kg final.

In the women’s 80 kg final, Kiran went down 2:3 against Kazakhstan’s Yeldana Talipova in a keenly fought bout to settle for silver.

Five Indian women boxers will also return home with bronze medals. Tamanna (51kg), Priya (57kg), Sanju (60kg), Saneh (70kg), and Lalfakmawii Ralte (80kg) came up with strong performances to finish on the podium.

On Sunday, Deepak opened India’s gold medal tally with a commanding win over Abdurakhimov. He was cautious at the start but, midway through the opening round, began taking control of the bout and then sailed through.

In the 90kg final, Tanwar adopted a different approach as he began aggressively against Han from the beginning and dominated the first two rounds. The Chinese fighter fought back in the third as Tanwar began to play safe but could not do enough to turn the tables.

However, a spur-of-the-moment gesture that offended the Uzbekistan coach led to Indian boxer Anshul Gill’s disqualification, despite winning the semi-final bout. Following a formal complaint by the opposing team’s coach, Anshul (90 kg) was barred from receiving a medal as he was disqualified from participating in the finals of the Thailand Open 2025 this morning.

BFI President-Chairman, Interim Committee, Mr Ajay Singh, said the performance reflected the growing depth and consistency that Indian boxers were capable of on the international stage.

“They have shown composure, skill, and strategic maturity against some of the best in the world, especially in the heavier weight categories this time around. It’s a clear sign that the systems we’ve put in place are working. As we now shift focus to the second leg of the World Cup in Kazakhstan, we carry forward this momentum and belief. The goal is clear—to keep building, keep performing, and keep raising the bar,” he said.