Standing at six foot one, Lakshya Chahar cuts an imposing figure under the bright lights of the boxing ring. The 80-kg class boxer doesn’t just bring muscle and grit into the fight, he brings geometry. His height isn’t merely a number on a stat sheet; it’s a tactical weapon. With every inch of his frame, the 23-year-old stretches the battlefield, forcing opponents to play by his rules. His jab, sharp and unrelenting, travels further than most rivals can reach — a reminder that closing the distance will come at a price.On Sunday, Jordan’s Hussein Iashaish found out how Lakshya’s reach is as much a shield as it is a spear in their round-of-32 clash at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool. Lakshya produced a composed, professional display to finish with a unanimous 5-0 verdict and book his place in the tournament’s pre-quarterfinals.From the opening bell Lakshya set the tempo. He used a steady jab to establish range, mixed in angled entries and quick, accurate combinations to score throughout the opening round. The Jordanian, who is an Asian Championships gold medallist, tried to respond with bursts of activity but rarely mounted any consistent threat. By the close of the second round, the momentum was clearly with the Indian, and Lakshya tightened the screws in the third to ensure a shutout on the judges’ cards. he clean, economic style Lakshya displayed — efficient footwork, disciplined defence and a habit of finishing exchanges first — made the bout totally one-sided.Lakshya’s section of the draw is being called the “group of death”, with each round potentially featuring a continental or global medallist. In the pre-quarters, he will face Yojerlin Cesar of France. Cesar is a two-time European U23 champion and recently won gold at the World Boxing Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July 2025, defeating the 2023 world champion and Olympic silver medallist Nurbek Oralbay in the final by unanimous decision.Lakshya hails from a middle-class family and found his calling in boxing as a teenager, inspired by his elder brother, who too was an aspiring boxer. His first tryst with boxing gloves came at the age of 14-15, but he majorly benefited during his time at the Army Sports Institute in Pune — a phase that was crucial in shaping his fundamentals.
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The day, however, delivered contrasting fortunes for India. Pawan Bartwal’s campaign ended with a 0-5 defeat against former world champion Mirzakhalolov Mirazizbek of Uzbekistan in the men’s 55kg round-of-32.Bartwal had earlier showcased grit in a close win over Brazil’s Michael Trindade, but against Mirazizbek, he could not match the Uzbek’s relentless combinations and technical superiority.Despite the loss, Bartwal’s progress, which included a hard-fought win over an Olympic contender, suggests that he can be an exciting prospect for the future. Late on Saturday night, Sanju Khatri was knocked out after she suffered a unanimous decision defeat to Aneta Rygielska of Poland in her women’s 60kg round-of-32 bout.In another late-night bout, Sachin Siwach (men’s 60kg), who got a first-round bye, defeated Jacob Cassar of Australia 5-0 in a round-of-32 bout to enter the pre-quarters. He will take on Kazakhstan’s Biibars Zhexen.
