In a significant achievement for Indian boxing on the global stage, the Indian contingent returned home with an impressive haul of six medals—comprising one gold, one silver, and four bronze medals—at the World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025, which concluded on Saturday at Foz Do Iguaçu, a picturesque city known for its waterfalls and now, for hosting one of the year’s biggest boxing competitions.
This international event witnessed participation from over 130 elite boxers, including several Olympians representing 19 different countries across the world. The competition brought together some of the finest talents from various corners of the globe, making it a challenging and high-profile platform for emerging and experienced boxers alike.
Amidst this intense competition, India made its mark by registering a series of remarkable performances in the men’s categories, showcasing the growing depth and talent within the country’s boxing ranks.
While the tournament hosted contests for both men and women, India’s representation was limited to the men’s division due to the Senior Women’s National Championships being held earlier this month, which led to the absence of the country’s female boxers from the Brazil leg of the tournament.
Historic Gold for Hitesh Gulia
Leading India’s medal tally was Hitesh Gulia, who created history by becoming the first-ever Indian boxer to win a gold medal at a World Boxing Cup event.
Competing in the men’s 70kg weight division, Gulia was declared the winner in the final match after his opponent, Odel Kamara from England, was unable to step into the ring due to an injury. As a result, Gulia was handed a walkover victory, securing the top podium spot and bringing immense pride to the Indian camp.
Following his milestone win, a jubilant Hitesh credited his success to the rigorous 10-day pre-tournament training camp held in Brazil. Speaking to reporters after the medal ceremony, he expressed gratitude for the exposure and preparation the camp provided.
“The camp helped me learn a few tactical nuances that really made a difference in the competition. It was an opportunity to train in unfamiliar conditions and adapt to a new environment. This tournament has given us valuable exposure at the international level, and I am extremely happy that I could capitalize on it and bring home the gold,” Hitesh remarked.
Silver Lining for Abhinash Jamwal
India’s second finalist, Abhinash Jamwal, showcased exceptional grit and determination in the 65kg men’s category. Facing a tough opponent in the form of Yuri Reis, the home crowd favorite from Brazil, Jamwal gave a spirited performance.
Despite his best efforts and a closely contested bout, he narrowly missed out on the top prize and had to settle for a well-earned silver medal. His performance, however, earned praise from boxing experts and coaches for his technique and endurance in the ring.
Four Bronze Medals in Semi-Final Finishes
In addition to the gold and silver, four Indian pugilists brought home bronze medals after advancing to the semi-finals in their respective categories, where they were narrowly defeated. As per the tournament format—similar to that of Olympic boxing rules—both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.
The following boxers secured bronze medals for India:
- Jadumani Singh Mandengbam in the men’s 50kg category
- Manish Rathore in the 55kg division
- Sachin is in the 60kg category
- Vishal in the 90kg weight class
All four displayed commendable performances throughout the early rounds of the tournament, overcoming tough competition to reach the semi-final stage. Although they couldn’t progress to the finals, their bronze-winning efforts were celebrated as key contributions to India’s overall performance at the event.
Strong Global Participation and Future Outlook
The Brazil edition of the World Boxing Cup was the first leg of the prestigious international tournament for the year 2025. This series of events is part of a global initiative aimed at providing elite boxers with more competitive opportunities and a structured pathway to ranking points and eventual qualification for the World Boxing Cup Finals, scheduled for later in the year.
The remaining two editions of the World Boxing Cup for 2025 are set to be hosted in Kazakhstan in June and in India in November, bringing the spotlight back to the home crowd. Boxers will continue to accumulate ranking points across these meets, and those with the highest rankings will earn their place in the season-ending Finals, a prestigious event that brings together the top performers of the year.
A Promising Start to the Year for Indian Boxing
India’s six-medal performance at the World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025 has been widely hailed as a positive sign for the nation’s boxing future, particularly in the men’s division. The young and talented contingent demonstrated not only technical skill but also composure and mental strength against top-level competition.
Coaches and officials from the Indian Boxing Federation emphasized that the results were encouraging, especially with more international events scheduled later in the season. They also expressed hope that with continued support, proper infrastructure, and consistent exposure to high-level tournaments, Indian boxers could continue to raise the bar and bring home more international accolades.
Indian Medal Winners at World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025
- 🥇 Gold Medal: Hitesh Gulia (Men’s 70kg category)
- 🥈 Silver Medal: Abhinash Jamwal (Men’s 65kg category)
- 🥉 Bronze Medals:
- Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (Men’s 50kg category)
- Manish Rathore (Men’s 55kg category)
- Sachin (Men’s 60kg category)
- Vishal (Men’s 90kg category)
As the focus now shifts to the next leg of the World Boxing Cup in Kazakhstan, Indian boxers will look to build on this promising start and continue making their presence felt on the global boxing circuit.
