Sachin Siwach Overcomes Canadian Stalwart to Reach Commonwealth Games Pre‑Quarterfinals

Glasgow’s SEC Centre was buzzing on Saturday as India’s 26‑year‑old boxing hope, Sachin Siwach, stepped into the ring against a familiar Canadian opponent – Keoma Al‑Ahmadieh. Both fighters had already crossed swords earlier in the season, with Siwach taking the win at the Boxam Tournament in Spain and again at the World Cup in Kazakhstan.

Those past victories, however, didn’t make the bout any easier. The opening seconds saw Siwach miss a right hook, only to take a clean jab to the face from Al‑Ahmadieh. The Canadian looked sharp, pushing the Indian onto the back foot and forcing him to regroup.

Slowly but surely, Siwach found his rhythm. He began counter‑punching with crisp, two‑handed combos, edging the first round 3‑2 on three judges’ cards. In the second round, Al‑Ahmadieh tried to dominate the centre of the ring, but Siwach’s footwork stayed nimble, slipping punches and landing quick ripostes that earned him a unanimous 10‑9 from all five judges.

“It was a tough bout but I had beaten him twice before, so I was pretty confident,” Siwach told PTI after the fight, a hint of relief in his voice. “It was important for me to defeat him today because it was at the Commonwealth Games.”

The final round was a test of endurance. Al‑Ahmadieh pressed hard, but Siwach weathered the storm, landing enough scoring blows to secure a 4‑1 split‑decision win. With that, he booked his place in the pre‑quarterfinals, where England’s William Hewitt awaits in the round of 16.