Ankush Panghal turns early career setback into CWG, Asian Games golds in 2026

At 14, Ankush Panghal was ready to walk away from boxing. A defeat in the final of his first state championship had left the youngster so disheartened that he considered giving up the sport altogether. His father, Suresh Panghal, stepped in at a crucial moment and persuaded him to continue, reminding him that defeats were temporary.

Eight years later, that decision has transformed into a dream year for Panghal. The Indian boxer has won gold at both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in the men’s 80kg category, establishing himself among the leading names in Indian boxing.

At the Asian Games, Panghal completed an unbeaten campaign by defeating South Korea’s Kim Minseong 4-0 in the gold-medal bout. He controlled the final from the opening bell, taking the first round on four of five judges’ cards before all five judges awarded him the second and third rounds 10-9. Four judges scored the contest 30-26 in his favour, while the fifth had it 28-28.

His Asian Games triumph came after victories over Bahrain’s Hamsa Vogel and Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov, both by unanimous 5-0 decisions. In the semi-final, he produced a comeback win over Uzbekistan’s reigning 75kg world champion Fazliddin Erkinboev, recovering from a first-round deficit to secure a 4-1 victory.

Panghal’s journey began at the age of 11 at a modest government school facility in Gangwa village in Hisar. He initially played kabaddi before taking up boxing and gradually progressed through the junior and youth ranks. Courtesy: Asian Games ANKUSH’S COMEBACK EARNS CWG GOLDPanghal’s Commonwealth Games campaign in Glasgow showcased his ability to adapt under pressure. He reached the final after defeating Canada’s Joshua Ofori 5-0 in the semi-final.

The final against England’s Dimeji Shittu proved considerably tougher. Panghal endured a difficult opening round after Shittu used his reach effectively and landed a heavy punch that resulted in a standing count. All five judges awarded the round to the Englishman, leaving Panghal trailing 0-5.

The Indian responded by increasing his aggression in the second round and finding ways to work inside Shittu’s reach. His combinations and counter-punches became more effective, helping him edge the round 3-2 on the judges’ cards.

Panghal then produced his strongest boxing in the final round. He slipped Shittu’s attacks, found openings for clean counters and took greater control of the exchanges. Shittu was also penalised with a point deduction, further strengthening Panghal’s position.

The comeback earned the Indian a 4-1 split-decision victory and Commonwealth Games gold. His triumph was India’s seventh boxing gold medal at the Glasgow Games.A YEAR OF BREAKTHROUGHS

The two gold medals were the culmination of a rapid rise through the senior ranks. Panghal won bronze at the 2025 U-22 Asian Boxing Championships and followed it with silver at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals. He continued that progress in 2026 with silver at the Boxam Cup and gold at the Elite National Boxing Championships.

His performances earned him a place in India’s teams for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, where he delivered on both occasions. The victories also underlined his ability to produce results against high-level international opposition, whether recovering from an early deficit or controlling a bout from the outset.

Panghal’s development has been supported by regular national coaching camps under the Annual Calendar for Training and Competition (ACTC), along with assistance for international competitions and foreign training exposures. Support has covered participation in events including the Golden Gloves of Vojvodina, the Asian Youth Boxing Championships, the World Boxing Championships, the Asian Elite Boxing Championships and the Grand Prix.

During the Asian Games cycle, Panghal received Rs 75,000 under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), while Rs 8,68,434 was provided through the Annual Calendar for Training and Competitions.

From his early days training with limited facilities to winning two major gold medals in the same year, Panghal’s 2026 has marked a defining chapter in his boxing career.- Ends