Nishio (Japan):There was a jinx broken in the boxing arena as well with Ankush Panghal ensuring that India had a male boxing finalist after eight years by advancing to the summit clash of the 80kg category.

The boxers have already surpassed their previous haul of four by ensuring six medals this time. Apart from Ankush, Parveen Hooda too stormed into the final, securing her place in the 65kg gold-medal bout with a commanding victory even as Narender Berwal signed off with a bronze after losing in the +90kg semifinals.

Parveen defeated China’s Li Shu 5-0 before Ankush produced a stirring comeback to out-punch reigning 75kg world champion Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Erkinboev 4-1.

Narender, however, went down 0-5 to reigning super-heavyweight world champion Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan in the last-four stage. The bronze was Narender’s second at the Asian Games after he also finished on the podium in Hangzhou in 2023.