India’s Commonwealth Games Boxing Success
India’s boxing contingent achieved a significant milestone at the recent Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, securing a record-breaking ten medals, including seven gold medals. This performance has generated considerable optimism within the sport, particularly regarding the growing strength in women’s boxing. Among the gold medalists were Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) in the women’s categories. In the men’s competition, Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg) also claimed gold. Additionally, Olympic medalist Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani Singh, and Narender Berwal earned silver medals.
Preeti Pawar, who won gold in the women’s 54kg category by defeating Scarlett Delgado of Canada, views her debut CWG gold as a crucial learning experience. She highlighted the strong boxing culture in her hometown of Bhiwani, often referred to as ‘Mini Cuba’ due to its history of producing world-class boxing talent. This environment, characterized by parental involvement and intense competition, has contributed to India’s rich boxing heritage.
Challenges Ahead at the Asian Games
Despite the success at the Commonwealth Games, the Indian boxing team faces a more formidable challenge at the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. The Asian Games will feature continental boxing powerhouses such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and North Korea. These nations have consistently demonstrated dominance in global boxing events, including the World Championships and the Olympics.
Notable international competitors expected to feature include Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov and Bobo-Usmon Baturov, along with Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev and Ablaikhan Zhussupov. The field is anticipated to be packed with world-class talent, making the competition significantly tougher than the Commonwealth Games.
Adding to the challenge, India will be without two of its Commonwealth Games champions, Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg). Their respective weight categories are not part of the Asian Games program, which means India will miss out on two potential medal prospects.
Preparing for the Ultimate Asian Exam
The President of the Boxing Federation of India, Ajay Singh, emphasized the significance of the upcoming event, stating that the Asian Games are akin to the Olympics for the Indian team. He noted that three of the world’s strongest boxing teams—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and India—are all from Asia, and the addition of a strong Chinese contingent further intensifies the competition. He suggested that a substantial medal haul at the Asian Games could indicate future success at the Olympics.
Women’s head coach Santiago Nieva echoed this sentiment, acknowledging the strength of the field at the Asian Games. He affirmed that the team is on the right path and that the boxers are aware they cannot rest on their recent success. The Asian Games will serve as a crucial test to determine if the progress made by the Indian boxing contingent is sufficient to compete with Asia’s best and to gauge their potential for medals at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. India previously secured one silver and three bronze medals at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Preeti Pawar’s journey to CWG gold involved overcoming personal adversity, including a bout of hepatitis before the Paris Olympics 2024. Her career includes a silver at the Khelo India Games in 2020, a gold in 2021, and a bronze in the 54kg category at the Asian Games in Hangzhou in 2023, where she defeated multiple World Championships medalist Zhaina Shekerbekova of Kazakhstan before losing to Chang Yuan of China.
The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will commence on September 19.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
