Ankush Panghal: Age. Biography, Family, Boxing & Asian Games

Ankush Panghal is an Indian amateur boxer competing in the men’s 80kg category. Representing Haryana, he has emerged as a promising young boxing talent in India, rapidly rising through the ranks in school-level, national, and international competitions. Born on August 13, 2005, in Haryana, Ankush took up boxing at a young age after initially playing kabaddi.

He achieved major success on the senior international circuit by winning a silver medal at the 2025 World Boxing Cup Final, followed by a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In 2026, he also reached the final of the men’s 80kg category at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, having defeated Uzbekistan’s world champion Fazliddin Erkinboev in the semi-finals. He is associated with the Army Sports Institute and joined the Army as a Havildar in 2024.

Ankush Panghal Bio/Wiki

Ankush Panghal was born on August 13, 2005, in Haryana. As of 2026, he is 21 years old. He hails from a family with a strong sporting background; his father, Suresh Panghal, was a national-level Kabaddi player, and Ankush initially took up the same sport. After playing Kabaddi for several years, he switched to boxing on his father’s advice.

Ankush began boxing at the age of around 11 or 12. His initial training took place at a government school facility in Gangwa village, Hisar, under the guidance of coach Pradeep Sawant. Despite limited facilities there, he progressed through school, state, and national-level competitions and later continued his professional training at the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune.

At the age of 14, he won a gold medal at the School Nationals. His impressive performance earned him support under the ‘Khelo India’ scheme. Subsequently, before transitioning to senior-level boxing, he participated in junior and youth international events.

By 2025, Ankush Panghal had established himself in the 80kg category and reached the final of the World Boxing Cup in Greater Noida, where he won a silver medal.

Ankush Panghal Personal Information

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Ankush Panghal Debut

Ankush Panghal Family & Relationship

Ankush comes from a family with a background in sports. His father, Suresh, was a national-level Kabaddi player, and his sisters have also been involved in sports: Neelam is a rifle-shooting coach, Anju Bala is a boxer, and Neetu Rani secured a job with the Railways through boxing.

Ankush Panghal Career

Before taking up boxing, Ankush Panghal used to play kabaddi. His father encouraged him to choose boxing because it was an individual sport. After entering the sport, Ankush began training at a government school facility in Gangwa village, Hisar.

He won a gold medal at the School Nationals at the age of 14 and continued competing at higher levels. His performances in junior and youth competitions paved the way for his transition to senior-level boxing.

In 2023, Ankush competed in the 67kg category at the Asian Youth Boxing Championships. Later, as he advanced in his senior career, he moved up to the 80kg category.

In 2024, Ankush Panghal joined the Indian Army and attained the rank of Havildar. He also became associated with the Army Sports Institute in Pune, where he continued his boxing training.

In 2025, Ankush reached the final of the 80kg category at the World Boxing Cup Finals held in Greater Noida and won the silver medal.

In 2026, Ankush Panghal won the gold medal in the men’s 80kg category at the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships.

He subsequently represented India at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. In the final, Ankush defeated England’s Dimeji Shittu via a 4–1 split decision to win the gold medal in the men’s 80kg category.

Ankush Panghal at the 2026 Asian Games

Ankush Panghal made his Asian Games debut in 2026 in the men’s 80kg boxing category. He began his campaign with a 5–0 victory over Bahrain’s Hamsa Vogel. In the quarter-finals, he defeated Tajikistan’s Nekruz Salimov 5–0, securing India’s first boxing medal at the Games.

In the semi-finals, Ankush faced Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Erkinboev. After losing the opening round, he staged a remarkable comeback to win the bout 4–1 and book his place in the men’s 80kg category final. Ankush is set to face South Korea’s Kim Minsong in the men’s 80kg gold-medal match on October 2, 2026.

Ankush Panghal Awards & Achievements

• In 2025, Ankush Panghal won the silver medal in the men’s 80kg category at the World Boxing Cup Final.

• In 2026, he won the gold medal in the men’s 80kg category at the Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship.

• In 2026, he won the gold medal in the men’s 80kg boxing category at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

• In 2026, he secured a spot in the final of the men’s 80kg category at the Asian Games by defeating Uzbekistan’s Fazliddin Erkinboev in the semi-final.

Ankush Panghal Social Media Accounts

Ankush Panghal Interesting Facts

• Ankush Panghal started playing kabaddi before pursuing a career in boxing.
• His father, Suresh Panghal, was a national-level kabaddi player.
• Ankush began boxing at the age of around 11 or 12.
• He won a gold medal at the School Nationals when he was 14.
• In his early boxing days, he trained at a government school facility in Gangwa village, Hisar.
• Ankush joined the Indian Army in 2024 and became a Havildar.
• His sister, Anju Bala, is also a boxer, making boxing an integral part of their family.
• He secured his first major senior international medal by winning silver at the 2025 World Boxing Cup final.
• In 2026, Ankush won the gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the men’s 80kg category.
• He made his debut at the Asian Games in 2026 in the men’s 80kg category.