Deepak and Poonam emerged as the sole Indian victors on the opening day of the World Boxing Cup: China 2026 in Guiyang City on June 15, 2026. While the pair secured dominant unanimous decision wins to advance, the broader Indian contingent struggled, with seven other fighters suffering early exits at the Guiyang Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium. This event marks the second stage of the 2026 World Boxing Cup series and the first time China has hosted a stop on the circuit.
Deepak opened India’s account in the Men’s 70kg category with a clinical performance against Bayramdurdy Nurmuhammedov of Turkmenistan. All five judges scored the bout in favor of the Indian, allowing him to advance from the Preliminary Round of 32. His sharp technical display provided a necessary lift for the squad following a string of losses in the heavier weight divisions.
Poonam mirrored this success in the Women’s 54kg division, securing a 5-0 unanimous decision over Uzbekistan’s Aziza Yokubova. Competing in the Preliminary Round of 32, Poonam showcased superior movement to outwork her opponent and secure a spot in the Round of 16. These opening victories are vital as India looks to build momentum after skipping the season-opening stage in Brazil earlier this year.
Challenges for India at World Boxing Cup: China 2026
The success of the lead duo stood in isolation as several teammates faced elite international opposition. Rishi Singh fell to Azerbaijan’s Subhan Mamedov in the Men’s 50kg Round of 16, losing by a 0-5 margin. Meanwhile, Sanamacha Chanu Thokchom was eliminated in the Women’s 75kg Preliminary Round of 16 by Canada’s Tammara Thibeault.
Tammara Thibeault, a multiple gold medalist and two-time Olympian, was making her first appearance in an Olympic-style competition since Paris 2024. The Canadian utilized her extensive experience to control the tempo, handing the Indian a 0-5 defeat. Such high-level competition is expected in a field featuring over 330 boxers from 44 National Federations, often mirroring the intensity seen when elite pros like Anthony Joshua discuss the mental grind of championship fighting.
In the heavier classes, Norway’s Omar Shiha defeated Sawan Gill (Men’s 90kg) via a 5-0 decision. Harsh Choudhary’s campaign in the same weight category ended in the third round of his preliminary bout against Sweden’s Elwin Belezika. The referee stopped the contest due to injury (RSC-I), resulting in Harsh Choudhary’s elimination.
Competitive losses in preliminary and quarterfinal stages
Anmol came the closest to a third Indian victory in the Men’s 60kg Preliminary Round. He faced Salim Ellis Bey of the USA, who previously earned a silver medal at the World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2026. Anmol ultimately lost via a narrow 2-3 split decision. These fine margins often define international tournaments, much like the precision Terence Crawford displays when navigating world-class opponents.
The tournament also saw two Indian women exit at the quarterfinal stage on the first day. Naina lost a 0-5 unanimous decision to China’s Xiaomeng Wang in the 80kg division. The host nation has brought a formidable lineup to Guiyang City, including 2024 Olympic gold medalist Wu Yu.
Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan Pathan was also eliminated in the Women’s 90+kg quarterfinals. She fell to Poland’s Elzbieta Wojcik by a score of 0-5. This current Indian roster consists of developmental athletes, as the nation’s primary boxers are currently preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
Ranking points and tournament structure in Guiyang City
The World Boxing Cup: China 2026 offers significant incentives beyond medals. Champions in each of the 20 weight divisions receive 150 World Boxing ranking points, while silver and bronze medalists earn 100 and 75 points, respectively. These points are critical for future seedings, a process as tactical as when Jack Catterall maneuvers through the rankings to secure title opportunities.
The tournament schedule is as follows:
- Preliminaries: June 15-19, 2026
- Semi-finals: June 20, 2026
- Finals and Medal Ceremonies: June 21, 2026
Competition will transition from two rings to a single ring for the final two days. India was the most successful team of the 2025 season with 40 medals, and the coaching staff will be looking for Deepak and Poonam to maintain that standard in the coming rounds. All official draws and live results are being tracked through the World Boxing digital platform.
