Ankush Panghal secures Asian Games 2026 medal with dominant win
Indian boxer Ankush Panghal secures a medal for India after a dominant 5-0 quarterfinal victory against Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov.
Indian pugilist Ankush Panghal has officially guaranteed a medal for the country in the men's 80 kg boxing category at the ongoing Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. In a commanding quarterfinal performance on Sunday, Panghal dismantled Tajikistan's Nekruz Salimov with a 5-0 unanimous decision.
Clinical performance in the ring
Panghal’s victory was defined by superior speed and precision. From the opening bell, the Indian boxer took control of the ring, leaving Salimov struggling to find a rhythm. While the Tajik fighter attempted to play a defensive game and look for counter-punches, Panghal was relentlessly proactive.
The dominance was evident in the scoring breakdown:
- First Round: Panghal utilized sharp right hooks to overwhelm his opponent, securing a 5-0 lead.
- Second Round: The Indian continued his onslaught with a stinging left hook and quick body shots, taking the round 5-0.
- Final Round: Despite a desperate slugfest from Salimov in the closing moments, Panghal’s defense held firm. Although Salimov managed to take the final round 4-1, the massive lead built in the earlier rounds ensured Panghal's total victory.
The road ahead looks challenging for the Indian boxer, as he is set to face Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Erkinboev, the current 75 kg world champion, in the semifinals on September 29.
Mixed fortunes for Team India
While the boxing ring brought celebrations, other Indian contingents experienced a rollercoaster of results across various disciplines at the Games.
Athletics and Fencing updates
In track and field, there is reason for optimism as Vithya Ramraj and Anu Raghavan both secured spots in the women's 400 m hurdles finals. Vithya clocked a season-best of 55.73 seconds, while Anu achieved a personal best of 55.84 seconds. Additionally, Murali Sreeshankar and David Patturaj Solomon have advanced to the men's long jump finals, with Sreeshankar placing second in Group B (7.84 m) and Solomon third in Group A (7.62 m).
However, the Indian women's sabre fencing team, featuring Bhavani Devi, saw their campaign end after a 45-35 loss to Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals.
Decathlon and Combat sports setbacks
The decathlon saw a shift in momentum for Tejaswin Shankar. After leading the table with 5,270 points following the 110m hurdles, a disappointing discus throw of 36.77 m saw him slip to third place overall. He currently sits at 5,869 points, trailing China and Japan.
In combat sports, the Kurash contingent faced a tough outing with several quick exits:
- Vishal: Lost 0-5 to Thailand's Kunathip Yea-On in the +90 kg quarterfinals.
- Sangita Balhara: Suffered a 10-0 defeat against the Philippines' Charmea Quelino.
- Bharti and Yash Kumar: Both bowed out in the knockout stages against Iranian and Tajik opponents respectively.
Archery shines bright
Providing much-needed cheer, the Indian archery teams showed exceptional form. In the recurve mixed team event, Dhiraj Bommadevara and Kumkum Mohod cruised past Vietnam with a 6-0 victory to enter the semifinals. Similarly, the compound mixed team of Sahil Jadhav and Chikitha Taniparthi has also advanced to the semifinal stage.