SEA Games 2025 Boxing: Danisha Mathialagan Misses Gold, Settles for Bronze After Semi-Final Heartbreak

Singapore boxer Danisha Mathialagan settles for a bronze medal at the SEA Games 2025 after a narrow split-decision loss in the women’s 48kg semi-final, but remains upbeat about the future of boxing.

PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE

Singapore boxer Danisha Mathialagan saw her dream of a SEA Games 2025 gold medal slip away after a heartbreaking split-decision loss in the women’s 48kg semi-final, settling instead for a joint bronze medal.

Competing against Thailand’s Thipsatcha Yodwaree on Tuesday (Dec 16), Danisha believed she had done enough to secure victory after the final round. However, judges ruled narrowly in favour of her opponent, sending the Thai boxer into the final and ending Danisha’s campaign one bout short of the gold medal match.

“I was quite devastated,” said Danisha after taking time to compose herself. “In my head, I thought I had it quite clear-cut. When they gave the win to her, it was quite painful knowing it was a split decision so it could have gone either way.”

Bronze Medal, But Bigger Gains for Singapore Boxing

While the immediate disappointment was undeniable, the 28-year-old remains proud of her contribution to Singapore boxing. Danisha has been a trailblazer for the sport, making history at the 2023 Asian Games as Singapore’s first boxer to qualify for the Asiad since 1976.

Her commitment to boxing has been unwavering. She even chose to work as a freelance embalmer instead of completing a four-year hospital bond, allowing her more time to train and compete at the elite level.

“The goal was a gold medal, but it’s OK, you live to fight another day,” she said. “I don’t really care about the colour of the medal. It’s more for the sake of boxing because we’re really an underdog sport in Singapore.”

PHOTO: SPORT SINGAPORE

Mental Strength and Long-Term Vision

With increased attention on her performances, Danisha admitted that expectations brought added pressure. However, working with a sports psychologist has helped her stay focused and block out external noise.

“Getting a win and proving to other countries that we are on par means a lot,” she explained. “This whole period of constant training has made us better boxers and better teammates.”

Looking ahead, Danisha believes the experience gained at the SEA Games will be crucial as she targets bigger stages such as the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games.

Resilience Beyond the Ring

Known for embracing challenges, Danisha sees this setback as another step in her personal and professional growth.

“Every time I have a setback, I tell myself I’m going to get the next one,” she said. “Boxing has helped me grow in confidence and taught me how to embrace losses. Years from now, I won’t remember the colour of the medal, just the experiences.”

Other SEA Games Boxing Results

In other boxing events at the SEA Games 2025, Ang Jin Yang also secured a bronze medal in the men’s 54kg division. Meanwhile, Singapore’s Leah-Diane Warden will compete in the women’s 66kg final on Dec 19, with hopes of delivering gold for the nation. Catch up on the 33rd SEA Games 2025 action through SportPlus.sg's SEA Games coverage and event round-ups via our SEA Games page here or ASEAN Sports site here. #SEAGames2025 #Boxing