Parveen Hooda Storms Into Asian Games Boxing Final
Indian boxer Parveen Hooda secures a spot in the Asian Games 2026 women's 65kg final after a dominant 5-0 victory over China's Li Shu.
Indian boxing sensation Parveen Hooda has secured her place in the women's 65kg final at the Asian Games 2026. In a high-stakes semifinal held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, Hooda delivered a masterclass performance to defeat China's Li Shu with a 5-0 unanimous decision on Tuesday.
A Dominant Display in the Ring
Throughout the bout, Hooda displayed remarkable composure and tactical intelligence. Rather than rushing into exchanges, she waited for the perfect openings to strike. According to reports from ESPN, she consistently outlanded her Chinese opponent across all rounds, maintaining control even when Li Shu attempted to mount a comeback. This comprehensive victory ensures Hooda is just one step away from gold.
Hooda is now set to face Chen Nien-chin from Chinese Taipei in the highly anticipated gold medal match.
More Action for Indian Boxers
The Indian boxing contingent remains in high gear with more semifinal action scheduled for later today. The spotlight turns to:
- Ankush Panghal: Taking on Uzbekistan's Fazliddin Erkinboev in the men's 80kg category.
- Narender: Facing Kazakhstan's Aibek Oralbay in the men's +90kg division.
Shooting and Archery: India’s Medal Haul Continues
Beyond the boxing ring, the Indian contingent has been making significant waves across various disciplines:
Shooting Silver Success
India added a silver medal to its tally in the women's trap team event. The trio of Neeru Dhanda, Aashima Ahlawat, and Manisha Keer posted a combined score of 328. While China claimed the gold with 346, India edged out Kuwait, who secured bronze with 325. Neeru Dhanda, who led the individual qualification, showed incredible form by hitting all five of her opening shots in the final.
Archery and Squash Updates
In archery, Kumkum Mohod has charged into the women's recurve individual quarterfinals after a commanding 6-0 victory over Bangladesh's Saima Salahuddin. Her next challenge will be the top seed, South Korea's Kang Chae-young, on October 3. Meanwhile, Indian men Dhiraj Bommadevara and Neeraj Chauhan have already secured their spots in the quarterfinals after defeating opponents from Chinese Taipei and South Korea respectively.
In squash, the Indian women's team progressed to the quarterfinals following a decisive 3-0 sweep against Iran in their final group stage match. In canoe slalom, five Indian athletes—Shikha Chouhan, Hitesh Kewat, Pradhyumna Singh Rathod, Pallavi Jagtap, and Rina Sen—have all successfully advanced to their respective semifinals.