SportsPosted at: Sep 27 2026 12:49PM


Ankush storms into semis, assures India boxing medal

Aichi-Nagoya, Sep 27 (UNI) Riding a rich vein of form, Commonwealth Games champion Ankush Panghal stormed into the men’s 80kg semifinals and assured India of its first boxing medal at the Asian Games here on Sunday.
Making his Asian Games debut, the 21-year-old Haryana boxer produced a mature and controlled performance to outclass Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov 5-0 in the quarterfinals.
Ankush seized control from the opening bell, combining quick footwork with crisp straight punches and well-timed counters. He dictated the distance and refused to allow Salimov to settle into a rhythm.
Having established a clear advantage in the first two rounds, Ankush showed impressive composure in the final round. Instead of getting drawn into a frantic exchange, he managed the bout intelligently, kept his opponent at range and protected his lead to secure another unanimous verdict.
The victory guarantees Ankush at least a bronze medal and gives India an early boost in its boxing campaign at Aichi-Nagoya.
It is also another significant step in what has been a remarkable recent run for the young boxer. Ankush arrived in Japan after winning Commonwealth Games gold in the 80kg category and has now carried that confidence seamlessly onto the Asian stage.
He had opened his Asian Games campaign with an equally emphatic 5-0 victory over Bahrain’s Hamsa Vogel in the round of 16.
Two bouts into the competition, Ankush has yet to drop a round, underlining the consistency and control that have marked his campaign.
The Indian’s success assumes added significance for a boxing contingent seeking to make an impact at the Games. His medal assurance comes before the completion of India’s campaign and provides momentum to the other Indian boxers still in contention.
Ankush’s approach has been particularly impressive for a debutant. Rather than relying solely on aggression, he has mixed movement, defence and counter-punching effectively, forcing opponents to chase the contest.
With a medal now assured, Ankush will return to the ring for the semifinal, where he will attempt to convert his guaranteed bronze into a place in the gold-medal bout.
For India, however, the significance is already clear — Ankush has ensured that the country will not leave Aichi-Nagoya without a boxing medal.
UNI BDN
Tags: #Ankush storms into semis# assures India boxing medal
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