India eyes strong start in Ulaanbaatar as several star boxers advance directly to next round
Punjab Newsline,Sports :
The Asian Boxing Elite Championships 2026 are set to kick off on Monday in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, with the Indian boxing contingent gearing up for an impressive start. Following the official draw, India’s opening matchups have been confirmed, presenting a mix of favorable byes and challenging bouts for the team.
In the women’s category, Preeti Pawar will compete against Kazakhstan’s Elina Bazarova in the 54 kg division, while Priya is set to face Rimma Volossenko in the 60 kg category. Minakshi will take on Japan’s Yuka Sadamatsu, and Pooja Rani will begin her campaign against Kazakhstan’s Nadezhda Ryabets. In a significant boost for India, top boxers Nikhat Zareen, Jaismine Lamboria, Ankushita Boro, Arundhati Choudhary, Lovlina Borgohain, and Alfiya Patahan have all received byes, allowing them direct entry into the next round.
On the men’s side, the competition promises to be equally intense. Vishvanath Suresh will open against Bekzat Ergeshov of Kyrgyzstan, while Jadumani Singh faces a tough first-round clash against top seed Rui Yamaguchi of Japan in the 55 kg category. Sachin will go up against Mongolia’s Buyandalai Bayarkhuu, and Aditya Pratap Singh will face Mouda Alhawsaw of Saudi Arabia. Deepak is set to Encounters with Uzbekistan’s Khavasbek Asadullaev. Meanwhile, Ankush and Narender have secured byes, while Akash, Lokesh, and Harsh Choudhary are also preparing for key bouts in their respective divisions.
With the draw finalized, all eyes are now on Team India as they aim to deliver a strong and impactful start to their campaign in the prestigious tournament.