Chen Nien-chin punches in with bronze at World Boxing Cup

Taipei, April 4 (CNA) Chen Nien-chin (陳念琴), who won a bronze medal in the women's 66-kilogram category at the 2024 Paris Olympics, earned another third-place finish in the welterweight (60-65kg) division at the 2025 World Boxing Cup in Brazil on Friday.

Chen lost to Kinga Krowka of Poland in the semifinal bout by a 4-1 split decision, ending her run at Foz do Iguaçu. She won the opening round 29-28 but dropped the next four rounds by identical 28-29 scores.

Officially titled "World Boxing Cup: Brazil 2025 - Foz do Iguaçu," the event was the first organized by World Boxing since it was provisionally recognized as the sport's international governing body by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in mid-March.

As of March 27, World Boxing had 89 member countries.

It also marked the first major international competition since the IOC's March 20 announcement confirming boxing's inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The competition runs from Tuesday to Saturday, with more than 130 boxers from 19 countries vying for honors in 20 divisions -- 10 each for men and women -- according to the organizer.

Chen's coach, Ko Wen-ming (柯文明), said the 27-year-old pugilist still has room to grow in this lower weight class, having only recently made the switch.

She was still competing in the under 70-kg division as recently as at the Strandja International Boxing Tournament in Bulgaria in late February and early March.

In the opening round of the World Boxing Cup, Chen defeated Brazil's two-time Olympian Beatriz Soares, who earned silver in Tokyo and bronze in Paris, but was unable to advance to the final.

Chen was one of four Taiwanese female boxers in Brazil but the only one to reach the semifinals of her respective weight class.

Wu Shih-yi (吳詩儀), a bronze medalist in the 60kg division at the Paris Olympics, also competed in Brazil in the 54-57 kg division but was eliminated prior to the semifinal round.