CWG 2026: Preeti Pawar, Ankush Panghal storm into boxing finals
- Preeti Pawar and Ankush Panghal win their semifinal bouts.
- India's boxing contingent now has multiple finalists at CWG 2026.
- Arundhati Choudhary's drastic weight cut and Jaismine's RSC win also highlighted.
- Ankush Panghal's journey from a Haryana government school to the CWG podium.
Perfect start in the ring
India's boxing campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026 got off to a flying start on Friday as Preeti Pawar and Ankush Panghal powered their way into their respective finals. The two boxers won their semifinal bouts, taking India to a perfect 2-0 record in the boxing semifinals on the day.
With the wins, both Pawar and Panghal have assured themselves of at least a silver medal each. The results continue India's strong showing in the ring at the Glasgow Games.
Preeti Pawar's measured march
Preeti Pawar, competing in the women's category, displayed composure and tactical sharpness in her semifinal. She controlled the pace of the bout from the opening bell, landing clean combinations while keeping her opponent at bay with her reach.
The win adds to Pawar's growing reputation on the international stage. She now stands one victory away from a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Ankush Panghal's remarkable rise
Ankush Panghal's journey to the final has been nothing short of extraordinary. From training at a government school sports facility in Haryana to boxing on the CWG podium in Glasgow, Panghal's story is one of grit and relentless hard work.
His semifinal performance was aggressive and precise, earning him a unanimous decision from the judges. The young boxer has shown maturity beyond his years, adapting his strategy round after round.
More finals in sight
The momentum did not stop with Pawar and Panghal. Jaismine also reached the women's 57kg final via a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) win, adding another assured silver to India's tally. Meanwhile, Arundhati Choudhary made headlines for a different reason — she reportedly lost 2kg in just one day to make weight, and then went on to assure herself of a Commonwealth Games medal.
Indian boxing's depth is on full display in Glasgow, with multiple pugilists now within touching distance of gold. The coaching staff and support personnel have been credited for the team's meticulous preparation.
What to watch next
All eyes will now turn to the finals, where Pawar, Panghal, and Jaismine will aim to convert their silver into gold. Their opponents are yet to be confirmed, but the Indian camp is confident.
The boxing finals are expected to take place over the coming days, and India will be hoping to add multiple gold medals to its tally. With the semifinals done, the focus shifts entirely to execution on the biggest stage.