Preeti, Priya and Arundhati reach finals in Asian Boxing Championships
Preeti Pawar, Priya and Arundhati Choudhary entered the finals of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 with strong semifinal wins. India secured multiple medal prospects, while Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain and Pooja Rani exited after semifinal defeats
Hyderabad: India’s bantamweight dynamo Preeti Pawar downed Paris Olympics bronze medallist Aeji Im of Korea to book her place in the 54 kg Elite Women’s final at the Asian Boxing Championships 2026 on Monday.
Indian women’s team members Priya and Arundhati Choudhary also joined Preeti in the title bouts, easing past their respective semifinal opponents in Ulaanbaatar.
In the women’s 54 kg semifinal, Preeti, a gold medallist from the World Boxing Cup Finals, delivered a composed and clinical performance, dominating all three rounds against Im to secure a 5-0 victory. She will now face Chinese Taipei’s Huang Hsiao-wen, a three-time World Champion (2019, 2023, 2025) and Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, in a marquee gold medal clash.
In the women’s 60 kg category, Priya produced a commanding display to defeat Namuun Monkhor (MGL) by a 5-0 unanimous decision, sealing her spot in the final. She will now take on North Korea’s Un Gyong Won in the title bout.
In the women’s 65 kg category, Ankushita Boro went down 0-3 to Chinese Taipei’s Nien-Chin Chen, the Paris Olympics bronze medallist, in the semifinals. The bout was interrupted due to a power supply issue after the first round, following which the result was decided based on points.
In the women’s 70 kg category, Arundhati impressed with a 4-1 victory over Oysha Toirova (UZB), showcasing control and composure to progress to the final. She is set to face Kazakhstan’s Bakyt Seidish next.
Meanwhile, in the women’s 51 kg category, Nikhat Zareen went down 0-5 to China’s Wu Yu, the reigning Olympic gold medallist and one of the most dominant boxers in the division, in the semifinals.
In the women’s 75 kg category, Lovlina Borgohain suffered a 0-5 defeat to Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova, a World Championships bronze medallist in the 70 kg category, known for her aggressive style and strong international performances.
In the women’s 80 kg category, Pooja Rani bowed out after a 0-5 loss to Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets, a 2023 World Championships bronze medallist and an experienced campaigner.
With four boxers already through to the finals, India’s campaign continues with two more semifinal bouts in the women’s 48 kg and 57 kg categories scheduled for April 7.
