Nagoya, October 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh has hailed the remarkable progress of Indian boxing over the past decade after the country secured six medals, including three golds, at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026, describing the achievement as a major milestone for the sport.
India finished its most successful Asian Games boxing campaign in terms of gold medals, with three gold and three bronze medals. The performance saw the country finish ahead of traditional boxing powerhouses such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.
“It is a matter of great pride. India has come first in the Asian Games, ahead of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China, which are considered to be the leading countries in boxing. The performance of the team was excellent,” Singh said.
He highlighted India’s achievements across major international competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, Asian Championships and World Championships, saying the country had established itself among the leading nations in the sport.
“Not only in the Asian Games, India came first in the Commonwealth Games as well. Before that, we came second in the Asian Championships and third in the World Championships,” Singh said.
At the Aichi-Nagoya Games, Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg) and Ankush Panghal (80kg) won gold medals, while Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg) and Priya Ghanghas (60kg) secured bronze.
Lovlina, who upgraded her silver medal from the 2023 Asian Games to gold, also became only the second Indian woman after Mary Kom to win an Asian Games boxing gold.
Singh said the country’s progress had been particularly encouraging given its position a decade ago, when India was ranked 44th in world boxing.
“Ten years ago, when I became BFI president, we were 44th in the world. Today, we are at the top of the world, ahead of everyone,” he said, adding that India must remain focused on improving its weaknesses rather than becoming overconfident.
The BFI chief also expressed confidence about India’s prospects at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying consistent preparation and targeted work on the boxers’ shortcomings would be crucial to securing medals.
Under the BFI’s selection criteria, Asian Games medallists will be selected as the main entries in their respective weight categories for the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan, which will serve as the first qualifying event for boxing at the 2028 Olympics.
Singh also welcomed India’s success in the heavier weight categories, saying the latest results had challenged the perception that Indian boxers perform mainly in lighter divisions.
FOLLOW NOW
