The gloves are on, the Commonwealth celebrations are behind them, and India’s boxers now face a very different examination. Fresh from the most successful boxing campaign in the country’s Commonwealth Games history, an 11-member Indian squad will enter the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with momentum on its side but a far more demanding continental field waiting in the wings. The Asian Games begin on September 19 and run until October 4, with India fielding six men and five women in boxing.
The immediate backdrop is hard to ignore. At Glasgow 2026, Indian boxers produced a record haul of 10 medals, including seven gold and three silver, making it the country’s most successful Commonwealth Games boxing campaign. But the Asian Games offer a different test. The continental field traditionally features strong boxing nations such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Japan, Thailand and Mongolia, meaning the Commonwealth form will have to be translated into performances against a deeper and more competitive pool.
Women’s squad carries a blend of champions and experience. The women’s team features Sakshi Chaudhary at 51kg, Preeti Pawar at 54kg, Priya Ghanghas at 60kg, Parveen Hooda at 65kg and Lovlina Borgohain at 75kg. Sakshi, Preeti and Priya arrive after winning Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. Their presence gives the women’s contingent three boxers who have already experienced the pressure of a major multi-sport event this year. Preeti also has Asian Games experience. She won bronze at the Hangzhou 2023 Asian Games in the women’s 50-54kg category.
Then there is Lovlina Borgohain, the most experienced name in the squad. The Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist will compete in the 75kg category and remains one of the most recognisable figures in Indian boxing. She also won silver at the 2026 Commonwealth Games. Parveen, meanwhile, returns to the Asian Games stage after winning bronze in the 54-57kg category at Hangzhou 2023. Men’s team looks to carry Glasgow momentum. The men’s six-member unit comprises Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush Panghal (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg) and Narender Berwal (+90kg). Sachin and Ankush are among the biggest names heading to Japan after their gold medal-winning performances at Glasgow.
Jadumani and Narender, meanwhile, won silver at the Commonwealth Games. Narender also brings Asian Games experience, having claimed bronze in the men’s +92kg category at Hangzhou. Kapil Pokhariya’s selection adds another storyline to the men’s squad. The Uttarakhand boxer was selected for both the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games squads and competes in the 90kg category. The preparation has also been structured specifically around the Asian Games. The Boxing Federation of India conducted a pre-Asian Games training camp in Nishio City, Japan, from September 8 to 16, with the selected boxers training alongside reserves and support staff.
India’s 11-member Asian Games boxing squad:
Women
Sakshi Chaudhary, 51kg
Preeti Pawar, 54kg
Priya Ghanghas, 60kg
Parveen Hooda, 65kg
Lovlina Borgohain, 75kg
Men
Jadumani Singh, 55kg
Sachin Siwach, 60kg
Sumit Kundu, 70kg
Ankush Panghal, 80kg
Kapil Pokhariya, 90kg
Narender Berwal, +90kg
The squad was shaped through the Boxing Federation of India’s selection process, with the federation introducing a revised sparring-based assessment system for the 2026 cycle. The BFI said a five-judge scoring system was used during the assessment process, with the aim of making evaluation more transparent.
The biggest question for Indian boxing in Aichi-Nagoya is not whether Glasgow was a breakthrough. The numbers have already answered that. The real question is whether that success can travel across a stronger continental field. The Commonwealth Games gave this group confidence, medals and momentum. The Asian Games will demand something different: adaptability, tactical discipline and the ability to handle opponents with established pedigree across the continent.
For India, the 11 boxers represent more than a collection of recent champions. They are a mix of Commonwealth gold medallists, Asian Games medallists, an Olympic medallist and emerging names looking to establish themselves on the continental stage. The first bell in Japan will therefore mark the beginning of a new chapter. Glasgow proved what Indian boxing could achieve. Aichi-Nagoya will provide the next measure of how far that resurgence can go.
