India's Preeti Pawar has advanced to the quarter-finals of the women's 54kg boxing competition at Glasgow 2026, putting herself one win away from at least a bronze medal.
Pawar, winner of the 2026 Asian Elite Championship in April, defeated Malawi's Deborah Mtenje by referee's stoppage in the second round. Her performance was identified by Commonwealth Sport as one of the standout displays as the boxing programme moved towards the medal rounds.
Her next bout will be against Northern Ireland's Nicole Clyde, with the winner guaranteed a place on the podium. The contest comes as a total of 24 boxers have reached the quarter-finals across the programme, each now within one victory of a medal.
Pawar is competing at her first Commonwealth Games. Commonwealth Sport reported that she recognised the quality of the Irish boxing contingent while expressing confidence in her own ability to progress further in the tournament.
The morning session also brought movement elsewhere in the women's 54kg draw. England's Lauren Mackie, the only boxer in the category to have already fought twice, came through against Australia's Monique Suraci by a 3-2 split decision after a strong final round.
Mackie will next meet Wales' Helen Jones, who defeated Nigeria's Kadijat Ajishola by the same verdict. In the men's 55kg category, Australia's Jye Dixon beat Lesotho's Mathealira Seholoholo in another notable bout as fighters across the competition set their sights on the podium.