Indian Boxers Nikhil, Deepak and Saneh Advance at Boxing World Cup in China

HYDERABAD — Three Indian boxers, Nikhil, Deepak, and Saneh, advanced to the next round of the Boxing World Cup Stage 2 in China after securing victories on Wednesday, 17 June 2026. The day, however, saw the exit of teammates Malsawmtluanga and Mahi Lama following defeats in their respective preliminary bouts.

In the men's 55kg category, Nikhil delivered a strong performance to register a convincing 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Brazil's Kelvy Trindade. The win ensured his progression to the next round of the international tournament.

Deepak matched the dominant performance in the men's 70kg division. He faced a tough opponent in Japan's Sewon Okazawa, who is a World Championships silver medallist. Deepak produced an equally impressive display to defeat Okazawa by a clear 5-0 verdict, securing his place in the next stage.

In the women's competition, Saneh also advanced in the 65kg category. She faced South Korea's Seon Sujin and secured a hard-fought 4-1 victory to keep her campaign alive in China.

While three boxers tasted success, two other Indian representatives bowed out of the competition during the Day 3 preliminary contests. In the men's 80kg category, Malsawmtluanga went down 1-4 against Jordan's Ashaish Hussein. In the women's 60kg category, Mahi Lama was eliminated after suffering a 0-5 defeat at the hands of Mongolia's Monkhor Namuun.

The tournament continues with more Indian action scheduled for Day 4. Two Indian boxers will take to the ring to secure their spots in the next round. Minakshi will compete in the women's 51kg section against Natalia Kuczewska of Poland. Meanwhile, in the men's 65kg category, Abhinash Jamwal is set to clash with Kyrgyzstan's Mirzokhid Imamnazarov.

With three boxers successfully moving into the next round and two bowing out on Day 3, the Indian contingent will look to build on these performances as the Boxing World Cup Stage 2 progresses.