Asian Games: Sachin one win away from boxing medal after scrappy last-16 victory

NewsSports NewsAsian Games 2026 NewsAsian Games: Sachin Siwach one win away from boxing medal after scrappy pre-quarterfinal victory Asian Games: Sachin Siwach one win away from boxing medal after scrappy pre-quarterfinal victory Edited by: Hijam Raju Singh / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Sep 25, 2026, 12:30 IST NEW DELHI: Indian boxer Sachin Siwach moved to the men’s 60kg quarterfinals at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya on Friday, beating Jordan’s Mohammad Adnan Abu Jajeh in a hard-fought contest to move within one win of securing a medal.The Commonwealth Games gold medallist, who received a first-round bye, had to dig deep to overcome his Jordanian opponent in a bout that turned into a tactical battle after an aggressive start.

Sachin eventually secured a split-decision victory, keeping India’s hopes alive in the men’s 60kg category. Watch Gurindervir Singh on Asian Games, sub-10 target and his medal ambition Sachin will next face Japan’s Shunsuke Kitamoto, a World Championships bronze medallist, in the quarterfinal.

A win would assure the Indian of a medal at the continental Games.Asian Games Full Coverage | Medal Tally | ScheduleSachin holds off late fightback to seal victory Sachin began the bout on the front foot, landing a series of combinations against Abu Jajeh.

However, the contest soon settled into a tactical affair, with both boxers looking to counter their opponent’s attacks.The Indian’s cleaner punching earned him the opening round on three of the five judges’ scorecards. The second round followed a similar pattern, with the boxers cancelling each other’s attacks and waiting for openings.

Needing to make up ground, Abu Jajeh pressed forward, allowing Sachin to find opportunities for sharp left-right combinations. The Indian again edged the round, winning it 4-1 on the judges’ cards.The Jordanian boxer came out aggressively in the final round, throwing punches in numbers in a bid to turn the bout around.

Sachin stood his ground and traded blows, but appeared to tire in the closing stages, allowing his opponent to land a few clean punches.Despite the late pressure, the Indian had done enough to secure the split-decision win and progress to the last eight.Preeti Pawar to begin campaign later in the day Later on Friday, India’s previous edition bronze medallist Preeti Pawar will begin her campaign in the women’s 54kg category.Join conversation India had a mixed day in boxing on Thursday, with Parveen the only Indian to progress after receiving a walkover into the women’s 65kg quarterfinals.

Her compatriots Sakshi Chaudhary and Sumit suffered contrasting exits.Sakshi lost 2-3 to Kazakhstan’s Alua Balkibekova in the women’s 51kg pre-quarterfinals, while Sumit was forced to withdraw midway through his men’s 70kg bout due to a knee injury.India’s overall medal tally stood at 19 on Friday, comprising two gold, eight silver and nine bronze medals.

Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Hijam Raju Singh is an Assistant News Editor with The Times of India Digital, with more than 20 years of journalism experience, including over 18 years in sports journalism.

A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication, he has been associated with The Times of India’s Digital Sports Desk for more than 18 years. He specialises in analytical, statistical and data-driven sports coverage, with a particular interest in cricket, football, tennis and Olympic sports.

“Terror, Theatrics Won’t Repay Loans”: India Hits Back At Pakistan At UNHRC BJP's ₹529 Crore Poll Spending Revealed; Bengal Alone Accounted For ₹287 Crore, EC Data Shows Ajeet Bharti Faces Arrest Heat As Delhi HC Rejects Bail In Chandrashekhar Azad Case IIT-Bombay Death Row: Parents Question CCTV Leak, Demand CBI Probe And Action Against Officials Another Sexual Assault Case from Bihar: 4 Arrested In Samastipur After Video Surfaces Online