Minakshi Hooda, a 24-year-old Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) constable from Rurki, Rohtak in Haryana and daughter of an auto-rickshaw driver, has clinched the gold medal in the women’s 48kg category at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. She defeated Kazakhstan’s Olympic bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay 4-1, marking a historic feat not only for herself but for Indian women’s boxing globally.
Praised by officials including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ITBP dignitaries, Minakshi’s inspiring journey from humble beginnings to world champion highlights resilience, support systems, and the rising stature of Indian sport on the international stage.
A Journey of Grit and Determination
Minakshi Hooda’s rise is a powerful story of determination overcoming adversity. Growing up in a modest household, her father Srikrishan earned a living driving an auto rickshaw in Rohtak. Early on, Minakshi faced financial challenges while pursuing boxing, training with borrowed gear under coach Vijay Hooda at a local academy.
With her mother’s strong encouragement and the coach’s unwavering belief, Minakshi won sub-junior and youth national titles, establishing her potential. Joining ITBP in 2021 was a turning point, providing structured training, professional coaching, physiotherapy, and financial stability. ITBP Deputy Inspector General Ranbir Singh emphasized the institution’s role in nurturing talent and providing holistic support.
Minakshi’s father, overwhelmed with pride, shared how her success now provides the family economic upliftment, including owning an auto rickshaw, while aspiring for her Olympic participation.
Climbing the International Ladder to Gold
Minakshi steadily climbed the ranks, earning a silver medal at the 2022 Asian Amateur Boxing Championships before securing national titles in 2023 and 2024. She transitioned from the 52kg to the 48kg category in early 2025, a strategic move that proved beneficial. At the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, she showcased tactical aggression and composure, defeating Mongolia’s Lutsaikhany Altantsetseg 5-0 in the semifinals.
In the final, she overcame three-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay with a 4-1 decision, a redemption after narrowly missing gold at the World Boxing Cup earlier that year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded her victory on social media, calling it “truly motivating for Indian athletes” and celebrating the historic win that signals India’s growing strength in women’s boxing.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Minakshi Hooda’s story transcends sport; it epitomizes the transformative power of resilience, equitable opportunity, and community support. Her journey from a poverty-stricken background to world champion shines a spotlight on the need for inclusive sports infrastructure and empathetic institutional investment, especially at grassroots levels.
Her success encourages a narrative grounded in kindness, dialogue, and empowerment, fostering harmony and unity in society through shared aspirations. It serves as a reminder that true progress requires commitment to uplifting every hopeful talent regardless of origin.
