Indian Boxers Ankush Panghal, Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal have secured places in the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. All three won their quarter-final bouts on September 27, assuring India of at least three boxing medals because both losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals in the Asian Games boxing format.

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Ankush Panghal Enters the 80kg Semi-Final

Ankush Panghal continued his strong run in the men’s 80kg category with a 5-0 unanimous decision over Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov. The Indian boxer controlled the quarter-final across all three rounds and secured his place in the last four.

Panghal is competing at his first Asian Games after winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. His performance in Aichi-Nagoya has now given him an opportunity to compete for a gold or silver medal, while a bronze is already assured through his semi-final qualification.

The 80kg division is part of the men’s boxing programme at the Games, with the semi-finals scheduled for September 29. The final bouts in the boxing competition are scheduled for October 2.

Parveen Hooda Secures a Medal

Parveen Hooda also produced a 5-0 unanimous decision in the women’s 65kg quarter-final. She defeated Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova, a silver medallist at the 2025 World Championships.

The result gives Hooda a place in the semi-finals and guarantees her a medal in the 65kg category. She has moved up to 65kg after previously competing in the 57kg division. Her performance in Japan has brought another medal opportunity for India’s women’s boxing team.

Hooda had also won a bronze medal at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou, although that medal was later removed from the record following a suspension related to a whereabouts violation. Her current campaign in Aichi-Nagoya has given her another chance to reach the Asian Games podium.

Narender Berwal Wins by Referee Stoppage

Narender Berwal completed India’s three-medal haul in boxing by winning his men’s +90kg quarter-final against Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep. The referee stopped the contest in less than two minutes after Berwal landed a series of heavy punches.

The Indian heavyweight forced three standing counts before the referee ended the contest. The result sent Berwal into the semi-finals and guaranteed him at least a bronze medal.

Berwal already has Asian Games experience. He won a bronze medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games and followed it with a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. His latest result means he has secured another Asian Games medal in the +90kg category.

How Boxing Medal Decisions Work

Asian Games boxing uses a knockout format. Boxers progress from the preliminary rounds to the quarter-finals and then the semi-finals. Once a boxer wins a quarter-final and reaches the last four, the athlete is guaranteed a medal.

There is no separate bronze-medal bout in the Asian Games boxing competition. The two boxers who lose their respective semi-finals receive bronze medals, while the winners move into the gold-medal final.

This means Panghal, Hooda and Berwal are already assured of three medals for India, although their final medal colours will be decided by their performances in the semi-finals and finals.

Sachin Siwach Exits in Quarter-Finals

India’s Sachin Siwach could not join the three boxers in the semi-finals. He lost his men’s 60kg quarter-final to Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto by a 5-0 decision.

Kitamoto, competing in front of his home crowd, controlled the bout and moved into the next stage. Siwach’s exit means India will not have a fourth boxing medal from the 60kg category.

Siwach entered the Asian Games after winning gold at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. His quarter-final appearance was part of India’s 11-member boxing squad in Aichi-Nagoya, which includes six men and five women.

India’s Boxing Campaign Continues

The three semi-finalists are part of an 11-member Indian boxing squad at the 2026 Asian Games. The men’s team includes Jadumani Singh, Sachin Siwach, Sumit Kundu, Ankush Panghal, Kapil Pokhariya and Narender Berwal. The women’s team includes Sakshi Chaudhary, Preeti Pawar, Priya Ghanghas, Parveen Hooda and Lovlina Borgohain.

The boxing competition continues through October 2, when the gold-medal bouts in all weight categories are scheduled. The semi-finals involving Panghal, Hooda and Berwal are scheduled for September 29.

The results also add to the momentum around India’s boxing team after a strong 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign, where Indian boxers won 10 medals, including seven gold medals.

With three Indian boxers already assured of medals, attention now turns to the semi-final bouts in Nishio as the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games continue.