Elite boxers Nikhat-Lovlina return empty handed, India's new guard delivers three medals at World Championships

New Guard Delivers as India Secures Three Medals at World Championships

At the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, India’s medal count is being shaped not by its most celebrated names, but by a trio of determined fighters who entered the competition away from the spotlight. While household names Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain exited earlier than expected, Nupur Sheoran, Jaismine Lamboria and Pooja Rani have stepped up brilliantly to assure India of three medals already.

Nupur Sheoran (+80kg) became the first to break through, sealing India’s opening medal with a composed 4:1 victory over Uzbekistan’s Sotimboeva Oltinoy. Her performance was marked by measured aggression and tactical awareness — hallmarks of a boxer beginning to find her own identity at the international stage.

Following her, Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) showcased flair and command in a dominant 5:0 win against Uzbekistan’s Mamajonova Khumorabonu. Hailing from the boxing nursery of Bhiwani, Jaismine has long been regarded as a talent waiting for her big stage moment, and Liverpool has become just that. Her assured entry into the semifinals confirmed India’s second medal.

Pooja Rani (80kg), a veteran who has fought her way back into the top bracket, displayed grit in a close-fought 3:2 triumph over Poland’s Koterska Emilia. For a boxer who knows the long road of highs and lows, this result is more than just another win, it is validation of persistence. With her victory, India’s medal tally swelled to three.

For Nikhat Zareen, the road ended at the quarterfinals. A two-time world champion, she was outclassed by Turkey’s Buse Naz Cakiroglu, a two-time Olympic silver medallist. Nikhat’s exit is not a failure, but rather a reminder of the razor-thin margins at the sport’s highest level. For Lovlina Borgohain too, the campaign ended earlier than the nation had hoped. The disappointment is real, but both carry legacies that cannot be diminished by one result.

Instead, what Liverpool is showcasing is the emergence of India’s bench strength. Nupur, Jaismine and Pooja are proving that Indian women’s boxing is no longer dependent on just a handful of marquee names. They bring new energy, styles, and ambition into the mix, ensuring that the country’s boxing narrative keeps evolving.

Three medals are already guaranteed, with the chance of more. More importantly, India’s younger and less celebrated names are turning opportunity into podiums. In doing so, they are not just winning bouts—they are redefining the future of Indian boxing.