India enjoyed a dominant day at the World Boxing Cup Finals on Wednesday as reigning World Champion Jaismine Lamboria and former World Champion Nikhat Zareen powered into their respective gold medal bouts.
Competing at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida, both boxers overcame the challenge of entering the tournament later than usual, delivering confident semifinal victories to lead a strong Indian contingent into Thursday’s finals.
Jaismine (57kg) produced a commanding 5-0 win over Kazakhstan’s Ulzhan Sarsenbek, a former Asian youth gold medallist. The tall southpaw demonstrated exceptional ring awareness, taking early control by keeping her opponent at distance.
Sarsenbek attempted to close the gap and force exchanges, but Jaismine’s long-range precision and smooth movement allowed her to dictate the pace throughout the bout. Her sharp footwork and timing helped her “steal points effortlessly” as she cruised into the final. She will now face Chinese Taipei’s Paris Olympics bronze medallist Wu Shih Yi in a highly anticipated showdown.
In the 51kg category, Nikhat Zareen produced a similarly convincing performance, defeating Uzbekistan’s Gulsevar Ganieva— the 2022 World youth champion—by a unanimous 5-0 verdict. Despite a challenging start in which she edged the opening round 4-1, Nikhat’s experience and composure became increasingly evident as the fight progressed. The Indian star relied on clean combinations and quick counters to impress all five judges, even as the bout featured frequent clinches and fierce exchanges.
Reflecting on her return to the medal rounds after a lengthy gap, Nikhat admitted the unconventional timing of her first bout posed a challenge. “My (first) bout has come towards the end. It has never happened. It wasn’t as per expectations, but I am happy to medal (in nearly two years),” she said. Nikhat will face Chinese Taipei’s Guo Yi Xuan in the title clash.
India’s strong campaign extended well beyond its two world champions. Six more Indian boxers secured semifinal wins, taking the nation’s tally to an impressive 15 finalists—an achievement that underscores the depth and rising confidence of the home squad.
As the finals unfold on Thursday, India will field one of its largest-ever contingents in championship bouts at a major international event on home soil. With Jaismine and Nikhat leading the charge, the host nation stands poised for a potentially memorable finish at the World Boxing Cup Finals. In
