Ulaanbaatar, March 30 – Preeti Pawar and Deepak from India delivered impressive performances at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia on Monday, securing hard-fought victories against strong opponents.
In the women’s 54kg category, Preeti Pawar, who won a gold medal at the World Boxing Cup Finals, delivered a strong performance to win 5-0 unanimously over Kazakhstan’s Elina Bazarova, a former Asian U22 champion (2025). Facing a highly skilled opponent, Preeti’s precise victory marked a powerful start to her campaign.
In the men’s 70kg category, Deepak, who earned a silver medal at the Boxam Elite International 2026 and a bronze at the Asian Youth Boxing Championships 2022, performed confidently to narrowly defeat Uzbekistan’s Khavasbek Asadullaev with a 3-2 split decision. Competing against a nation known for its strength in amateur boxing, Deepak demonstrated tactical discipline and resilience in a tightly fought match.
The Indian team began their campaign perfectly, winning both of their matches in the tournament's initial phase.
The 2026 Asian Boxing Championships showcase top boxing talent from across the continent, with early matches often being as challenging as the later rounds due to the high level of competition.
Earlier on Sunday, the draw confirmed key opening bouts and byes across categories. While Preeti was set to face Bazarova in the 54 kg category, Priya was slated to face Rimma Volossenko (KAZ) in the 60 kg.
Moreover, Minakshi will face Japan’s Yuka Sadamatsu, while Pooja Rani will go up against Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets. Meanwhile, Nikhat Zareen, Jaismine Lamboria, Ankushita Boro, Arundhati Choudhary, Lovlina Borgohain, and Alfiya Patahan advanced with byes, according to information received from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
On the men’s side, Vishvanath Suresh will face Bekzat Ergeshov (KGZ), while Jadumani Singh faces top seed Rui Yamaguchi (JPN) in a tough 55 kg bout. Sachin will take on Buyandalai Bayarkhuu (MGL), and Aditya Pratap Singh will face Mouda Alhawsaw (KSA). Ankush and Narender will advance with byes, while Akash, Lokesh, and Harsh Choudhary are also set for key bouts in their respective categories.
