Indian women boxers eye big medal haul at Asian Championships after World Cup Finals dominance

Buoyed by a dominant performance at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida last November, India’s women boxers are targeting a strong medal haul at the Asian Boxing Championships, scheduled to be held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from March 28 to April 11. The continental meet will serve as a key preparatory event ahead of the Asian Games later this year.

Led by two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (51kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), the Indian contingent asserted its dominance at the World Boxing Cup Finals, winning seven of the 10 gold medals on offer. The other gold medallists were Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Parveen Hooda (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) and Nupur Sheoran (80+kg), highlighting the depth and consistency of India’s women’s boxing programme.

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The boxers are currently undergoing intensive training at the Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports (NSNIS), Patiala, as part of the national camp supported under the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) Annual Calendar for Training & Competition (ACTC), in collaboration with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

For Nikhat, the World Boxing Cup Finals marked a significant milestone in her comeback after a six-month injury layoff due to a meniscus tear. Following a disappointing Paris 2024 Olympics campaign and a quarterfinal finish at the 2025 World Championships in Liverpool, the gold medal in November provided a timely boost.

“I was very happy to end 2025 with a gold medal in November. I also began the new year on a winning note by emerging as national champion at the Senior Nationals. It gives me immense confidence that I am getting back in form and delivering consistently. 2026 is a very important year and I hope to win gold in all the major events lined up to make India proud,” Nikhat said.

The 29-year-old, who is supported under the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS), credited technical adjustments and sparring with male boxers for her resurgence as she targets major multi-sport events such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya.

“I have worked on my past mistakes and sparred with boxers of different styles over the last few months. After Paris 2024, when I returned from injury, I trained at the Army Sports Institute in Pune and sparred extensively with junior and male boxers. That helped me a lot. I regularly discuss my mistakes with my coaches and work on different aspects of my boxing, which has improved my results,” she explained.

Parveen Hooda, a former Asian champion and World Championships bronze medallist, described the World Boxing Cup Finals as a crucial comeback event following her own injury struggles.

“The World Cup Finals was my comeback tournament, as I competed at the international level after a long time due to injury. My opponents were very accomplished boxers, so the event was extremely valuable for me,” Parveen said.

She also highlighted the impact of head coach Santiago Nieva, whose return has sharpened the squad’s preparation.

“Coach Santiago’s periodisation plans and emphasis on fitness and technique have been very useful, not just for me but for all the women boxers. It has boosted our confidence. I have also worked on my strength. Earlier, I felt my punches lacked power, so I focused on that aspect with the coach, and it has improved. With the Asian Championships next month and the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year, we need to peak at the right time, and that is part of the plan,” the 25-year-old said.

World champion Minakshi Hooda, meanwhile, is focusing on improving her footwork as she prepares for a busy international season.

“Last year, I competed in several international events and won gold in many of them. With major events like the Asian Games coming up later this year, I am working on my footwork and leg strength. My natural style is to tire out my opponents by constantly moving in the ring, so footwork is crucial. I need to complete all three rounds without giving my rival opportunities to score,” she said.

“With the new coach and changes in the training regime, I am confident of winning a medal at the Asian Games in Japan,” Minakshi added.