Aichi-Nagoya: Indian boxer Narender Berwal secured a bronze medal in the men’s +90kg category at the Asian Games 2026 after losing his semifinal bout to Kazakhstan’s reigning world champion Aibek Oralbay by unanimous decision on Tuesday.
The 31-year-old Indian found it difficult to impose his style against Oralbay, who controlled the opening exchanges with punches to the body and head. Narender gradually found his range and landed a few counters, but all five judges awarded the first round to the Kazakh.
Oralbay continued to dictate the pace in the second round, backed by strong home support. Narender showed greater aggression and connected with a right hook, but the Kazakh’s combinations and movement earned him another 5-0 round.
The Indian stepped up his attack in the final round and landed more clean punches as Oralbay shifted towards defence and movement. However, the Kazakh also connected with several strong shots and Narender was given a standing count by the referee.
Oralbay maintained his advantage through the closing exchanges to secure a unanimous-decision victory and book his place in the gold-medal bout.
The bronze adds to Narender’s international medal collection after he won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Indian Army Subedar has now secured another major podium finish at the continental event.
Earlier in the day, India secured two berths in the boxing gold-medal bouts. Ankush Panghal defeated Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Erkinboev 4-1 in the men’s 80kg semifinal and will meet South Korea’s Kim Min-Seong in the final.
In the women’s 65kg category, Parveen Hooda advanced to the final with a 5-0 win over China’s Li Shu. She will face Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin for the gold medal.
Narender’s bronze took India’s medal tally to 48 at the Aichi-Nagoya Games, comprising five gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals.
