Asian Boxing C'ships 2026: Meenakshi, Jaismine power India to semifinals clean sweep
Ulaanbaatar, April 5
The Indian women's boxing contingent continued their impressive showing on Day 7 of the Asian Boxing Championships 2026, with Meenakshi and Jaismine storming to unanimous victories in the morning session in Mongolia.
The pair's wins ensured the entire Indian women's team occupied a medal-winning spot each ahead of the semifinals, according to a release. On the other side, triumphs for Lokesh, Akash, and Harsh Choudhary confirmed six berths for Indian men's pugilists in the semis.
In the women's 48kg category, Meenakshi produced a composed and commanding display to defeat Japan's Yuka Sadamatsu by a unanimous 5-0 decision, controlling the bout with sharp combinations and ring awareness. Jaismine matched that intensity in the 57kg division, outclassing China's Ziyi Chen with an equally dominant 5-0 verdict to book her place in the semifinals.
The results capped a flawless run for the Indian women so far, with every boxer occupying a medal-winning spot and reinforcing the squad's depth and consistency at the continental stage.
In the men's section, Lokesh (85kg) booked his place in the next round with a clinical 5-0 win over Korea's Gichae Kim, showcasing control and precision throughout the bout. Akash followed with a dominant 5-0 victory against Turkmenistan's Yhlas Bagtyyarov, while Harsh Choudhary delivered a strong performance to overcome the Kyrgyz Republic's Tynystan Alybaev and move into the semifinals.
India now has six boxers in the men's semifinals, underlining a solid all-round showing across categories. Ankush (80kg), however, bowed out after a loss to Jordan's Hussein Iashaish.
With multiple semifinal bouts ahead, India's campaign continues to gather momentum at the Asian Championships.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Dominant 5-0 wins against Japan and China! That's the spirit. Our boxers are showing world-class skill and temperament. The men's team is also holding strong with 6 in the semis. Let's bring home all the golds! 🇮🇳
While the results are fantastic, I hope the media and federation give these athletes consistent support, not just during championships. They train year-round with little spotlight. Sustainable backing is key for long-term success.
Watching Indian women dominate a tough sport like boxing on the Asian stage is so inspiring for young girls everywhere. Jaismine's win over China is particularly sweet! Keep going, champions!
Bas, ab semifinals mein bhi aise hi punch dena hai! The entire team's consistency is the real story here. From Mary Kom to now, the pipeline is strong. Heartbreak for Ankush, but the team performance is top-notch.
This is the kind of sports news that fills you with pride. No drama, just pure skill and hard work paying off. The coaches deserve a huge shoutout too. On to the medals now! 🥊
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