IBA Boxing World Championships: India tops with four gold medals

28 March 2023

Team India wrapped up the 2023 IBA Women’s Boxing World Championship with four gold medals and at the top of the standings.

On Saturday, March 25, 2023, Nitu Ghanghas made history by becoming the first person to win the gold medal in the 2023 IBA Women’s World Championship. Following her lead, three others also achieved this prestigious honour. Nitu is a previous gold medalist in the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Shortly after Nitu's triumph, Saweety Boora added another gold medal to India's collection. Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, also secured gold medals in their respective rounds, further enhancing India's success. All of these talented athletes were awarded cash prizes of Rs 82.7 lakhs ($100,000) for their impressive accomplishments.

Road to the Gold Medals

Nitu Ghanghas, a previous Commonwealth Games winner, earned India's first gold medal at the World Boxing Tournament in the 45-48 kg category finals by defeating Mongolia's Lutsaikhan Altantsetseg. Nitu led the initial round and kept up her offensive strategy for the first three minutes. Although Altantsetseg fought back and gained control, Nitu maintained her composure and secured a dominant victory.

Saweety, who previously won a silver medal, secured the gold medal in the 75-81 kg category by defeating China's Wang Lina with a split decision of 4-3. Despite Wang's strong efforts, Saweety's technical ability and strength enabled her to prevail in a closely contested bout.

Nikhat Zareen, a former Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the 52 kg category, won her second World Championship gold in the 48-50 kg weight category, defeating Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Tam with precise punching techniques and quick footwork. Thi Tam was the first Vietnamese boxer to reach the final round in the World Championship 2023.

Lovlina Borgohain, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medalist, secured India's fourth and final gold medal in the 70-75kg category by defeating Australia's Caitlin Anne Parker with a split decision of 5-2. Lovlina demonstrated her skill and experience in the first round, winning by a 3-2 margin, and went on to add another feather to her cap with her third Worlds medal.

What are your thoughts on the performance of Indian Boxers at the IBA World Championships? Let us know in the comments below.

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Our 'Golden Girls' Made us proud on the World Stage ????????@AjaySingh_SG l @debojo_m#itshertime #WorldChampionships #WWCHDelhi @Media_SAI @anandmahindra @IBA_Boxing @Mahindra_Auto @saweetyboora @LovlinaBorgohai @nikhat_zareen @NituGhanghas333 @NehaAnandBrahma pic.twitter.com/6Q0W1qy906

— Boxing Federation (@BFI_official) March 27, 2023