Prachi Upsets Olympic Medallist as India Assures Six Medals at World Boxing Cup Stage 2 in China

India enjoyed another outstanding day at the World Boxing Cup 2026 Stage 2 in Guiyang, China, with four more boxers booking their places in the semi-finals and ensuring that the country will return home with at least six medals from the prestigious tournament.

The headline performance came from Prachi, who produced a major upset in the women’s 57kg category by defeating Paris Olympics bronze medallist and Asian Games medallist Wu Shih-Yi of Chinese Taipei by a 4-1 split decision. The victory guaranteed Prachi a podium finish and further strengthened India’s growing reputation in women’s boxing.

Alongside Prachi’s memorable triumph, Minakshi, Deepak, and Nikhil all registered dominant victories to progress to the semi-finals, while Saneh bowed out after a spirited effort against Poland’s Kinga Krówka.

Facing one of the most decorated opponents in the draw, Prachi entered her quarter-final as the underdog but boxed with confidence and tactical discipline throughout the contest. Wu Shih-Yi, a bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics and a proven performer on the international circuit, struggled to cope with Prachi’s movement and clean scoring punches. The Indian maintained composure in crucial exchanges and earned a deserved 4-1 verdict from the judges.

The result stands as one of the biggest victories of Prachi’s career and secures at least a bronze medal for India in the women’s 57kg category. With momentum firmly on her side, she will now enter the semi-finals with the opportunity to challenge for a place in the gold medal bout.

Another standout performer was Minakshi, who continued her remarkable run after moving up from her familiar 48kg division to compete in the Olympic 51kg category. The reigning 48kg world champion and current world No. 1 produced a flawless display to defeat Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova, the reigning 2025 world champion and world No. 3, by a unanimous 5-0 decision.

Given the pedigree of her opponent, the victory ranks among the most significant of Minakshi’s career and underlines her ability to compete successfully despite changing weight classes.

Her technical precision, ring control and consistent scoring impressed throughout the bout, making a strong statement ahead of the semi-finals.

In the men’s 70kg competition, Deepak once again showcased his quality with a commanding 5-0 victory over Azerbaijan’s Nabi Isgandarov.

The Indian boxer controlled proceedings from the opening round, using disciplined footwork and accurate combinations to neutralise his opponent’s attacks. His unanimous victory ensured progression to the semi-finals and guaranteed India another medal.

Deepak’s consistency throughout the tournament has made him one of India’s strongest contenders for gold, and his confidence continues to grow with each performance.

India’s medal tally received another boost through Nikhil, who delivered one of the most convincing performances of the day in the men’s 55kg category. Taking on Azerbaijan’s Amin Mammadzada, Nikhil boxed with aggression and tactical maturity to secure a comprehensive 5-0 unanimous decision.

His clean punching and superior movement allowed him to dictate the contest from start to finish, leaving little doubt about the outcome and earning him a deserved place in the last four.

Not every result went India’s way, however. In the women’s 65kg category, Saneh faced a difficult challenge against Poland’s Kinga Krówka. Despite putting up a determined effort, the Indian was unable to break through her opponent’s defence and ultimately suffered a 0-5 defeat, ending her campaign at the quarter-final stage.

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Although disappointed with the result, Saneh’s performances throughout the tournament reflected her competitiveness against quality international opposition.

With six medals now assured, India’s campaign in Guiyang highlights the depth and strength that has developed across both the men’s and women’s programmes. The performances are particularly encouraging because they have come against highly accomplished opponents from traditional boxing nations. Prachi’s victory over an Olympic medallist and Minakshi’s dominant win against a reigning world champion demonstrate that Indian boxers are increasingly capable of competing with and defeating the world’s best.

Equally impressive has been the consistency shown by athletes across different weight categories. Rather than relying on one or two standout performers, India has multiple medal contenders progressing deep into the tournament.

As the competition moves into the semi-final stage, attention will shift from securing medals to chasing titles.

Prachi will look to build on her career-defining victory over Wu Shih-Yi, while Minakshi aims to continue her seamless adaptation to the 51kg division. Deepak and Nikhil, meanwhile, have both displayed the form and confidence required to mount serious gold medal challenges.

With six podium finishes already guaranteed and several boxers still in contention for top honours, India’s performance at the World Boxing Cup Stage 2 is shaping up to be another significant milestone in the nation’s boxing journey. The results in Guiyang reaffirm that Indian boxing is not only producing world-class talent but also building the depth needed to compete consistently at the highest level of international competition.