The boxing competition at the 2026 Asian Games will feature some of the strongest talent from across the continent, including Olympic and World Boxing champions, established international performers and several emerging contenders.
With a wealth of talent across the men’s and women’s weight classes, this is not intended to be a definitive list of the boxers to watch out for in Aichi-Nagoya. Instead, it highlights 10 of the names who could be among the leading contenders when the competition gets underway on September 21 at the Nishio Gymnasium.
Abdumalik Khalokov (UZB) – Men’s 60kg
The reigning Olympic and World Boxing champion is one of the leading names in the men’s 60kg division. Khalokov won Olympic gold at Paris 2024 before becoming the inaugural World Boxing champion at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool.
He has continued his strong form in 2026, winning gold at the World Boxing Cup in China, and is currently ranked number one in the world at 60kg.
Hsiao-wen Huang (TPE) – Women’s 54kg
The reigning World Boxing champion will bring considerable international experience to the women’s 54kg division. Huang won bronze at Tokyo 2020 before becoming world champion in Liverpool in 2025.
She will be looking to add another major title to her record in a strong women’s category that also includes India’s Preeti, who defeated Huang at the World Boxing Cup Finals in 2025.
Zeyad Eashash (JOR) – Men’s 70kg
Eashash is one of several leading contenders in a particularly strong men’s 70kg division. The Jordanian won bronze at the 2025 World Boxing Championships and followed that with another bronze at the World Boxing Cup in China earlier this year.
He also won gold at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships and is currently ranked number two in the world at 70kg.
Aira Villegas (PHI) – Women’s 51kg
Villegas is an established international performer and one of the Philippines’ leading medal hopes in the women’s 51kg division.
She won bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and will be looking to add another major international medal to her record at the Asian Games.
Sachin (IND) – Men’s 60kg
India’s Sachin has enjoyed considerable success over the last year, winning gold at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals before becoming Commonwealth Games champion at Glasgow 2026.
The 60kg boxer was ranked number five in the world ahead of the Asian Games and will be one of the leading contenders in a division that also features reigning Olympic and World Boxing champion Abdumalik Khalokov.
Wu Yu (CHN) – Women’s 51kg
The reigning Olympic champion is one of the leading contenders in the women’s 51kg division. Wu Yu won gold at Paris 2024 and has continued to collect major titles since moving into the 51kg category.
She won the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships and followed that with gold at the World Boxing Cup in China. She is currently ranked number one in the world at 51kg.
Sewonrets Okazawa (JPN) – Men’s 70kg
Okazawa is another leading contender in the highly competitive men’s 70kg division. The Japanese boxer won silver at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool, where he was defeated by Kazakhstan’s Torekhan Sabyrkhan in the final.
He is currently ranked number three in the world and will be looking to challenge for another major medal after reaching the final of this year’s Asian Boxing Championships.
Viktoriya Grafeyeva (KAZ) – Women’s 60kg
Grafeyeva has been one of the leading performers on the World Boxing Cup circuit in 2026. The Kazakh won bronze at the 2025 World Boxing Championships before claiming gold at consecutive World Boxing Cups in Brazil and China.
She will be looking to continue that run of form at the Asian Games and is among the main contenders in the women’s 60kg division.
Torekhan Sabyrkhan (KAZ) – Men’s 70kg
Sabyrkhan is the reigning World Boxing champion and currently sits at number one in the world at 70kg. The Kazakh won gold in Liverpool in 2025 after defeating Japan’s Sewonrets Okazawa in the final.
The 70kg division is expected to be one of the strongest in the competition, with Sabyrkhan joined by fellow contenders Zeyad Eashash and Okazawa.
Preeti (IND) – Women’s 54kg
Preeti arrives at the Asian Games as one of the leading contenders in the women’s 54kg division after a successful 2026. She won gold at the Asian Boxing Championships and then added a Commonwealth Games title at Glasgow 2026.
The Indian also won the 2025 World Boxing Cup Finals, defeating reigning world champion Hsiao-wen Huang and world bronze medallist Sirine Charaabi during the competition.
Her previous victories over two of the leading names in the division make Preeti one of the boxers to watch when the competition gets underway.
Stay tuned to World Boxing for more coverage of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
