For the first time in over four decades, Belgrade has welcomed the AIBA Men’s World Boxing Championships. The event opened with a sophisticated ceremony highlighting the evolution and history of boxing. This edition of the championships will conclude on November 6th. Belgrade stepped in as the host after a dispute between the AIBA and the Boxing Federation of India led to the cancellation of the original contract with New Delhi.
India's campaign opened with two decisive victories from Rohit Mor and Akash Sangwan. In the 57kg division, debutant Rohit set a high standard for the team by defeating Olympian Jean Caicedo in a dominant 5-0 sweep. It was a comprehensive performance where Rohit controlled the ring from start to finish.
Leveraging his height, the 20-year-old Rohit landed several powerful blows that proved decisive in scoring. His timing was impeccable, leaving the Ecuadorian opponent—a Tokyo 2021 Olympian—unable to mount any significant offense against the energetic young boxer.
Keeping the winning streak alive, Akash followed up with a masterclass against Adem Fukran. The 21-year-old demonstrated a perfect balance of aggression and defense in the 67kg category, leaving the Turkish fighter with almost no opportunity to score. The match ended in a one-sided 5-0 victory. Looking ahead, Rohit is set to face Bosnia's Alen Rahimic in the round-of-32, while Akash will battle Germany's Daniel Krotter this Thursday.
Following the release of the tournament draws, Asian champion Sanjeet (92kg) has been granted a first-round bye. He is one of two Indians to receive this advantage, alongside 80kg debutant Sachin Kumar. Sanjeet's tournament begins on October 29th against Russia's Andre Stotskii, while Sachin will face American Robby Gonzalez on October 30th.
The Indian squad at the AIBA World Championships consists entirely of current national champions. To reach the quarterfinals, the athletes must navigate through at least three victories. The stakes are high, with the gold medalist taking home $100,000, silver medalists receiving $50,000, and bronze winners earning $25,000.