Young Indian boxer Ankush Panghal put up a stellar performance at the Commonwealth Games 2026, defeating Canada’s Joshua Ofori 5-0 in the men’s 80kg semi-finals to advance to the final. With this victory, Ankush has secured at least a silver medal for India and is now eyeing the gold medal.
19-year-old Ankush Panghal, a resident of Sonipat, Haryana, began his sporting career with kabaddi. After playing kabaddi for about three years, his father advised him to pursue an individual sport. His father believed that individual sports offered greater opportunities for recognition than team sports. Consequently, Ankush chose boxing, and today he represents India internationally.
Ankush’s family is deeply involved in sports. His father was a kabaddi player himself, while his three sisters, two of whom are involved in shooting and one in boxing, consider his father his biggest inspiration.
Ankush Panghal has achieved many significant achievements at a young age. In 2023, he won a silver medal at the ASBC Youth Asian Championships. He then won a silver medal at the World Boxing Cup Finals in 2025. After winning a gold medal at the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in 2026, he has now achieved another significant milestone by reaching the final of the Commonwealth Games 2026.
After a lopsided victory in the semi-finals, Ankush Panghal will now advance to the final, where he has a golden opportunity to win a gold medal for India.
Indian female boxer Preeti Pawar has also advanced to the final of the 54 kg category at the 2026 Commonwealth Games by winning the semi-finals. Her silver medal has already been secured, and she will now face Scarlett Delgado of Canada for the gold medal.