Indian boxer Sachin Siwach has secured his place in the men’s 60kg pre-quarterfinals at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow. He achieved this by defeating Canada’s Keoma Al-Ahmadieh with a 4-1 split decision in a closely contested opening-round bout.
The match took place at the Scottish Event Campus on Saturday. Siwach, a 26-year-old former Commonwealth Youth Games champion, maintained his composure through three intense rounds. His victory sets up a last-16 clash against England’s Will Hewitt, scheduled for Monday.
Bout Details and Strategic Play
The contest began with a high tempo, as both southpaw boxers exchanged punches in the center of the ring. Siwach demonstrated sharper timing and made cleaner connections in the initial round, which proved decisive. Three of the five judges scored the first round 10-9 in his favor, giving him a narrow lead.
Al-Ahmadieh, who previously earned a bronze medal in the 57kg category at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, responded with increased aggression in the second round, aiming to control the pace. However, Siwach remained composed, effectively using well-timed counter-attacks. This strategy led all five judges to award him the second round, providing a crucial advantage on the scorecards.
In the final three minutes, the Canadian boxer intensified his offensive efforts, needing a strong finish to remain in the competition. With a healthy lead, Siwach adopted a measured approach, focusing on controlling the tempo and avoiding unnecessary risks. Although three judges gave the closing round to Al-Ahmadieh, Siwach had already built a sufficient cushion to secure the victory via a split decision.
Siwach’s win was described as a hard-fought battle against a familiar opponent. He had previously defeated Al-Ahmadieh at the Boxam Tournament in Spain earlier this year and at the World Cup in Kazakhstan last year. Despite these prior victories, the opening exchanges of the Glasgow bout saw Al-Ahmadieh appear sharper, initially forcing Siwach onto the back foot. Siwach gradually settled into the contest, utilizing crisp counter-punching with both hands to regain control. His accuracy towards the end of the first round helped him to edge it 3-2, with three judges scoring it 10-9.
Trailing after the first round, Al-Ahmadieh aggressively took the center of the ring in the second. Siwach, however, maintained his composure, employing nimble footwork to evade the Canadian’s attacks and repeatedly landing swift counter combinations. This tactical discipline earned him a unanimous 10-9 verdict from all five judges in the round.
Path Forward and Team India’s Progress
The victory sends Sachin Siwach into a challenging pre-quarterfinal match against England’s Will Hewitt. Hewitt gained attention by upsetting Paris Olympic silver medallist Munarbek Seiitbek Uulu at last year’s World Boxing Championships in Liverpool.
Siwach is the second Indian boxer to advance at the Glasgow Games. Jadumani Singh Mandengbam had previously secured a victory in the men’s 55kg round of 32 on Friday. India has sent a 14-member boxing squad to the Commonwealth Games, comprising seven men and seven women competing across various weight categories.
In other developments, Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain has already guaranteed at least a bronze medal. She received a direct entry into the semi-finals, and under Commonwealth Games boxing rules, both losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals, ensuring an early podium finish for India. Siwach‘s next bout against Will Hewitt is scheduled for Monday.
Source: telanganatoday.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter