Deepak Stuns World Silver Medallist Sewon Okazawa as Jyoti Assures India of Boxing World Cup Medal in China

India’s campaign at the World Boxing Cup Stage 2 in Guiyang, China received a major boost as Deepak produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating Asian Games champion and World Championships silver medallist Sewon Okazawa of Japan by a unanimous 5-0 decision to storm into the quarter-finals of the men’s 70kg category.

The result stands out as one of the finest victories of Deepak’s career, considering Okazawa’s reputation as one of Asia’s most accomplished boxers. Displaying confidence, composure and tactical discipline, the Indian boxer controlled the contest from start to finish and earned a unanimous verdict from all five judges.

The victory not only keeps India’s hopes alive in the competition but also sends a strong message about the depth of talent emerging within Indian boxing.

Sewon Okazawa entered the bout as one of the favourites in the weight category, having already established himself as an elite competitor through his Asian Games gold medal and World Championship silver medal. Facing such an accomplished opponent, Deepak showed no signs of intimidation.

He combined aggressive combinations with disciplined defence, consistently landing cleaner punches and dictating the pace of exchanges. His movement inside the ring frustrated the Japanese boxer, who struggled to impose his usual rhythm throughout the contest. The unanimous 5-0 scoreline reflected the dominance of the Indian boxer and highlighted the quality of his performance against one of the strongest names in the draw.

While Deepak’s victory grabbed headlines, Jyoti ensured India would leave Guiyang with at least one medal by advancing to the women’s 48kg semi-finals. Taking on Nomundari Enkh-Amgalan of Mongolia, Jyoti delivered a commanding display that forced the referee to stop the contest in the second round, awarding her victory via Referee Stops Contest (RSC). The stoppage win underlined her superiority and confirmed a podium finish, as all semi-finalists are guaranteed at least a bronze medal in the competition.

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Her aggressive approach and relentless pressure prevented the Mongolian boxer from settling into the contest, making it one of the most convincing Indian performances of the tournament so far.

India also celebrated victories from Prachi and Nikhil, both of whom progressed to the next round in their respective divisions. Competing in the women’s 57kg category, Prachi registered a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win over Deborah Grant of the United States. Her composed boxing and accurate scoring punches earned praise as she comfortably advanced.

Meanwhile, Nikhil fought one of the closest contests of the day in the men’s 55kg category, edging Christopher Hippocrate of France by a 3-2 split decision. The narrow victory showcased his resilience under pressure and kept India’s challenge alive in another weight class.

Together with Deepak and Jyoti, the quartet provided India with an encouraging set of results during an important phase of the tournament.

Despite several positive outcomes, India also endured disappointment in a handful of closely contested bouts. Poonam, competing in the women’s 54kg division, suffered a heartbreaking 2-3 split-decision defeat against Hsiao Wen Huang of Chinese Taipei after a closely fought encounter. Similarly, Akash narrowly lost by the same 2-3 margin to Mateusz Urban of Poland in the men’s 75kg category. Both contests could easily have gone either way, illustrating the fine margins that often determine success at the highest level.

In another result, Gitimoni exited the women’s 70kg competition after a 0-5 defeat to France’s Maelys Richol.

The standout performances from Deepak and Jyoti have injected fresh momentum into India’s campaign. Deepak’s victory over a boxer of Okazawa’s stature demonstrates that Indian athletes are increasingly capable of challenging and defeating established world-class opponents. Such wins provide valuable confidence not only for the individual boxer but also for the wider contingent.

Jyoti’s guaranteed medal ensures India has already opened its account in Guiyang and could potentially add to that tally if she continues her impressive form in the semi-finals and beyond.

With the tournament entering its decisive stages, India will hope its remaining boxers can build on the momentum generated by Tuesday’s performances. Deepak now heads into the quarter-finals with confidence after eliminating one of the strongest contenders in his category, while Jyoti will aim to upgrade her guaranteed bronze into a silver or even gold medal. Prachi and Nikhil also remain in contention and have shown enough quality to trouble higher-ranked opponents in the coming rounds.

Indian boxing has consistently produced strong performances at international competitions in recent years, and the latest results in Guiyang reinforce that upward trajectory. The emergence of young talents capable of defeating decorated opponents, combined with experienced campaigners delivering under pressure, reflects the depth being built across multiple weight divisions. Deepak’s emphatic victory over Sewon Okazawa may ultimately be remembered as one of the defining moments of India’s Boxing World Cup campaign, while Jyoti’s assured medal guarantees that the tricolour will feature on the podium.

As the competition progresses, Indian fans will be hoping these breakthrough performances translate into an even bigger medal haul and further establish the country as a rising force in world boxing.