By Sanjay Menon — 31 July 2026 — 3 min read Indian boxer Preeti Pawar has advanced to the women’s 54kg final at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, overcoming challenges associated with weight management. Pawar stated that the process of cutting weight before a significant bout is demanding for athletes due to dietary restrictions, yet she finds motivation in it. Pawar secured her spot in the final after defeating Zambia’s Catherine Mwape with a 5-0 decision in their semifinal match on Friday. This victory makes her the first Indian boxer to reach a final in Glasgow. She is scheduled to compete against Canada’s Scarlett Delgado for the gold medal. Delgado advanced by defeating England’s Lauren Mackie 4-1 in the other semifinal. Pawar’s Semifinal Performance and Preparation Following her win, Pawar commented on the difficulties of weight cutting, noting, “It is a little tough because we are not able to eat food properly. But it motivates us that we are one step away from the final.” She emphasized that this is a standard part of her training regimen and serves as a motivator. The boxer, who previously earned a bronze medal at the Asian Games, demonstrated control throughout her semifinal bout against Mwape. She effectively utilized her left straight and frequently landed counter-attacks after drawing her opponent forward. Mwape struggled to connect with clean punches and was consistently outmaneuvered when Pawar initiated combinations. Pawar’s dominance was evident as Mwape received three eight counts during the initial two rounds. The judges’ scorecards reflected Pawar’s control, with all five judges awarding her a 10-8 score in the second round. By the final round, the outcome was largely determined, and Mwape focused on evading Pawar’s attacks, leading to a comfortable 5-0 victory for the Indian boxer. Pawar expressed satisfaction with her performance, stating, “I am very happy that I have managed to do what I prepared for. I have to give my best tomorrow for the gold medal.” She highlighted her meticulous preparation with her coaches and her commitment to never underestimating opponents. Other Indian Boxers and Athletes Advance In other boxing events, Jadumani secured his place in the men’s 55kg boxing final after a unanimous decision victory over Haoseb in the semifinal. Jadumani maintained a composed approach in the final round, relying on counter-punching while his opponent pressed aggressively. All judges scored the bout in Jadumani’s favor, and he will face Dixon in the final on Friday. He joins Ankush, Jaismine, and Arundhati in the boxing finals, marking a successful day for India’s boxing contingent. Jaismine delivered a strong performance in her semifinal, securing a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) victory against Maselela. She took control in the second round, landing powerful punches that led to multiple standing counts against her opponent. The referee stopped the contest after Maselela was unable to withstand the sustained attack, sending Jaismine to the final to compete for a gold medal. In judo, Harsh Singh claimed a gold medal in the men’s 60kg event, defeating Australia’s Joshua Katz by Waza-Ari (10-0). This marked India’s second judo gold medal at the Games. Harsh’s composed performance denied Katz an early advantage, and despite opportunities for both judokas, Harsh secured the victory. Asmita Dey also clinched a judo gold, delivering a commanding performance to win by a 2-1 Yuko victory against her Canadian opponent, completing her campaign unbeaten. Meanwhile, Indian javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra is set to compete in the men’s javelin throw event at the Scotstoun Stadium on Thursday. Chopra, who won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, is aiming for his second title after missing the Birmingham 2022 edition due to an injury. He recently competed at the Doha Diamond League, where he registered a throw of 85.69 metres, placing him third after the third round. Tejaswin Shankar also achieved a personal best in the men’s decathlon, throwing 39.66m in the discus, earning 658 points. He remains third in the overall standings as he continues his pursuit of a Commonwealth Games medal, having also set a personal best in the long jump on Day 1. Preeti Pawar’s gold medal bout against Scarlett Delgado is scheduled for Friday. Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com Post navigation Indian judokas secure three medals at Commonwealth Games 2026