Asian Games 2026: Kapil Pokhariya clinches bronze in men's 90 kg
Indian boxer Kapil Pokhariya secures a bronze medal in the men's 90 kg category at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.
Indian pugilist Kapil Pokhariya secured a bronze medal for India in the men's 90 kg category at the ongoing Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, on Wednesday. Despite a valiant effort, Kapil was unable to overcome the formidable opponent from Uzbekistan in the semifinal bout.
Dominance by World Champion Turabek
Kapil faced off against Uzbekistan's Turabek Khabibullaev, the current world champion and a previous bronze medalist from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. The match proved to be a challenging encounter for the Indian boxer, as Turabek displayed superior control throughout the contest.
The Uzbek boxer dominated the opening round with a 5-0 scoreline. He maintained his momentum in the second round, winning it 4-1. Ultimately, the judges awarded Turabek a split-decision victory, marking a tough defeat for Kapil in the semifinals.
India's Medal Tally Grows
With Kapil's bronze, India has reached a significant milestone at the Asian Games, collecting its 57th medal. The current tally stands at nine gold medals, 21 bronze medals, and now 27 bronze medals in total.
Boxing Results: Priya Ghanghas and Lovlina Borgohain
The boxing ring saw significant action for India, with both women's categories delivering mixed results:
- Priya Ghanghas: The Commonwealth Games 2026 gold medalist had to settle for a bronze medal in the women's 60 kg category. She faced China's Yang Chengyu in a competitive semifinal. While Priya showed effective counter-punches and combination strikes, Yang's aggression and solid defense led to a victory for the Chinese boxer via a 3-2, 4-1, and 4-1 round-by-round scoreline.
- Lovlina Borgohain: In a thrilling turn of events, ace boxer Lovlina Borgohain has advanced to the women's 75kg final. She secured her spot in the gold medal match after a hard-fought 3-2 split-decision victory over Kazakhstan's Natalya Bogdanova.
Lovlina's Path to the Final
The bout between Lovlina and Bogdanova was a tactical battle. After losing the first round 3-2, Lovlina surged back in the second round with increased aggression, earning a commanding 5-0 decision. In a tense final round, Lovlina relied on her defense and precise counter-attacks to withstand Bogdanova's pressure, clinching the victory and a chance at Asian Games gold.