Indian Boxer Pawan Bartwal Creates History with Stunning Victory
In a spectacular display of boxing prowess, India's Pawan Bartwal (55kg) delivered the most shocking result of the tournament, completely dominating second seed and World Cup gold medallist Altynbek Nursultan of Kazakhstan with a commanding 5-0 victory. This remarkable win at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex on Monday secured Bartwal his first international medal and marked a breakthrough moment in his 15-year boxing journey.
Flawless Day for Indian Boxing Contingent
The hosts enjoyed another perfect day of competition as Sumit (75kg) and Naveen (90kg) joined Bartwal in registering dominant victories, pushing India's confirmed medal count to an impressive seven. The trio's outstanding performances have positioned India as a formidable force in this elite global event featuring only eight participants per weight category.
For Services boxer Pawan Bartwal, this victory represents the culmination of years of dedication and hard work. Beginning his journey in the early 2010s, Bartwal has steadily climbed through the ranks before finally announcing his arrival on the world stage in spectacular fashion. Supported by an energetic home crowd, he demonstrated exceptional defensive discipline, intelligent pace control, and remarkable endurance throughout the bout.
"Nursultan is a good boxer, he was a champion at the World Boxing Cup in Brazil this year. I was nervous at the beginning, but this tournament is taking place in our country, in front of our crowd, and that gave me confidence," Bartwal revealed after his historic win. "This is a hugely significant tournament in my career. This is my first international medal, and I am extremely proud."
Dominant Performances Across Weight Categories
Following Bartwal's inspirational performance, Sumit continued India's winning momentum with an equally convincing 5:0 victory over Korea's Kim Hyeon-tae in the 75kg quarterfinals. Sumit established control early in the bout with a sharp punch to the face and maintained relentless pressure throughout, combining aggression with tactical precision that left his opponent in survival mode.
Completing the triumphant trio, Strandja 2024 medallist Naveen showcased a composed and intelligent performance against Kazakhstan's Bekzat Tangatar in the 90kg category. Utilizing his height and reach advantage to perfection, Naveen kept Tangatar at distance while landing clean scoring blows. After a competitive opening round, the Indian boxer grew stronger as the match progressed, employing swift movement and disciplined footwork to secure another unanimous decision victory.
The afternoon session also witnessed other notable results, including Taiwan's Olympic medallist Wu Shih-Yi delivering one of the standout wins by dominating Uzbekistan's Sitora Turdibekova 5:0 in the women's 57kg division. Uzbekistan's Samandar Olimov, England's Ellis Trowbridge, and Uzbekistan's Javokhir Abdurakhimov advanced in the men's 55kg and 75kg brackets, while Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Poland secured important victories across various weight categories.
Exciting Matchups Await in Evening Session
Session 3, scheduled for later this evening, promises more thrilling action with two highly anticipated Indian bouts. World Boxing Cup Brazil 2025 medallist Jadumani Singh (50kg) will face Kazakhstan's rapidly rising talent Ongarov Nurzat in what promises to be an exciting contest.
The marquee showdown of the day features Hitesh (70kg) taking on top seed Sewon Okazawa, the 2022 Asian Games medallist known for his technical precision. This clash represents one of the most anticipated matchups of the tournament's opening rounds and could provide another memorable moment for Indian boxing fans.
With seven medals already secured and more potential victories on the horizon, the Indian boxing team has demonstrated their growing stature in international boxing, powered by determined performances and strategic excellence that has thrilled home supporters.
