India’s new boxing star, Minakshi Hooda, made history at the World Boxing Championships 2025 in Liverpool by winning a gold medal in the 48kg division.
On September 14, Minakshi shocked the world by defeating Kazakhstan’s Nazym Kyzaibay, a bronze medalist of the Paris 2024 Olympics, with a resounding 4-1 split decision in the final.
The victory not only gave Minakshi her second gold medal of the tournament but also placed her very comfortably in the identity of a great champions in Indian boxing.
Minakshi Hooda vs Nazym Kyzaibay: A Fight of Determination and Redemption
Minakshi Hooda started out the final round like a house on fire! Hooda swept four of the five judges in the first round and established an early lead.
The second round saw a comeback by Kyzaibay, as she won the 3-2 round. But the third and last round was an exhilarating canter of punches, and Minakshi again won the approval of four judges, clinching her gold medal win.
This victory held special meaning since Kyzaibay had beaten Minakshi earlier this year at the World Boxing Cup in Astana, where the Indian had been forced to accept a bronze medal. The final in Liverpool was sweet revenge for Minakshi, who beat one of the world’s most decorated boxers.
Who is Nazym Kyzaibay?
Minakshi Hooda’s last opponent is Nazym Kyzaibay and she is one of the biggest names of women’s boxing:
– Paris 2024 Olympic Bronze Medalist
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– Three-time Women’s World Boxing Champion
– Most recently Gold medalist in Serbia early in 2025
To beat a boxer of such caliber puts Minakshi Hooda in a league of her own on the international stage and makes her one of the best boxing hopefuls for India.
India’s Medal Tally at World Boxing Championships 2025
India had a strong showing at the World Boxing Championships 2025, with many boxers attaining podium results.
Gold Medals:
Minakshi Hooda (48kg) – defeated Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan
Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) – defeated Julia Szeremeta of Poland by split decision
Silver Medal:
Nupur Sheoran (80kg+) – narrowly lost to Poland’s Agata Kaczmarska in a split decision 3-2 after a very competitive bout.
Bronze Medal:
Pooja Rani (80kg) – lost in semi-finals to England’s Emily Asquith who won comfortably 4-1 on the way to her final.
India’s Women Boxers Shine on Global Stage
The World Boxing Championships 2025 has been an important tournament for Indian women’s boxing. With Minakshi Hooda leading the charge and the likes of Jaismine Lamboria, Nupur Sheoran, and Pooja Rani at their disposal, Indian women are beginning to become a force in women’s boxing like never before.
What’s Next for Minakshi Hooda?
With this World Boxing Championship gold medal, Minakshi Hooda’s career as a boxer has seen a new peak. Her clinical victory over a world-class rival like Kyzaibay marks her readiness for upcoming elite events, such as the Asian Championships, BWF World Series tournaments, and even the Olympic qualifiers.
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