Jaismine, Nupur storm into final, Minakshi bags medal; men's campaign ends in drought

In Liverpool at the latest World Boxing Championships, India’s women boxers brought home commendable results as Jaismine Lamboria and Nupur Sheoran powered into finals and Minakshi secured a medal, while the men’s contingent endured a disappointing campaign, ending without a podium finish for the first time in over a decade. Jaismine delivered a near-flawless performance in the 57kg semifinal as she defeated her Venezuelan opponent with a unanimous 5-0 verdict. She maintained dominance from start to finish, using sharp, accurate jabs and hooks, controlling distance and keeping her adversary off balance. Her composure and ring command helped her seal victory without letting pressure build up against her. Nupur Sheoran, competing in the 80kg category, matched Jaismine’s dominance in her semifinal bout. She faced off against Seyma Duztas of Türkiye and out-punched her clearly, also winning by a unanimous decision. Nupur used her physical advantages smartly, especially her reach and height, to keep Duztas at bay. She boxed intelligently, mixing offense with good footwork, and capitalized when her opponent resorted to clinching or close exchanges. Her control of the fight from mid-round onwards left little room for a comeback. Meanwhile Minakshi, taking part in the non-Olympic 48kg division, ensured India’s medal count was extended as she too advanced to the semifinal round. Against Alice Pumphrey, a former U-19 world champion, Minakshi boxed from the back foot early on, making good use of her long reach and straight shots. She countered effectively, dominated the distance, and managed the bout in a manner that left little doubt about her control. Her strategy helped her win convincingly and guarantee herself a medal in the tournament. On the flip side, India’s men boxers suffered a rare off-day, as their campaign ended without a single medal—a drought not seen since 2013. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam, in the 50kg class, came closest to salvaging the men’s hopes but was defeated in the quarterfinals by reigning world champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay of Kazakhstan. Despite showing aggression and urgency, Jadumani was unable to override his experienced opponent, and a split verdict loss sent him home. Other Indian men boxers either bowed out in early rounds or failed to progress beyond the second or third stages, with only one other—Abhinash Jamwal at 65kg—making it to the quarterfinal stage. These results mean that while the women’s section has assuredly added four medals through performances by Jaismine, Nupur, Minakshi and Pooja Rani, the men return empty-handed. The contrast is stark: indomitable energy and execution by the women, contrasted with missed opportunities and early exits by the men. There is sense of disappointment in the men’s camp, especially given the expectations carried in recent years, but also recognition of the progress made by names like Jaismine, Nupur and Minakshi who have shown grit, skill and maturity on the global stage. Looking ahead, Jaismine will face Julia Szeremeta in the final, while Minakshi’s next opponent will be Lutsaikhany Altantsetseg of Mongolia. Both matches will test their mettle and will be watched closely by Indian fans hoping for gold. The women’s performance has injected optimism and proof that India’s boxing brigade, particularly the female fighters, is establishing itself strongly in world tournaments. Meanwhile, the men will need to regroup, reflect on what went wrong, and find the resilience to return stronger in upcoming meets.