Commonwealth Games success and upcoming challenges

By Sanjay Menon — 5 August 2026 — 4 min read

Commonwealth Games success and upcoming challenges

India’s boxing contingent achieved a significant medal haul at the recent Commonwealth Games, generating considerable optimism. The team secured ten medals, including seven gold medals, marking a record for the country in the competition’s boxing history. 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, while Lovlina Borgohain, Jadumani Singh, and Narender Berwal earned silver medals.

This success at the Commonwealth Games is now being viewed as preparation for a more demanding test: the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from September 19 to October 4. The Asian Games are regarded by some within the sport as a competition closely resembling the Olympics in terms of competitive intensity.

The field at the Asian Games will include strong boxing nations such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, China, Chinese Taipei, Japan, and North Korea. These countries have consistently performed well in World Championships and the Olympics. Notable international boxers expected to participate include Uzbekistan’s Mirazizbek Mirzakhalilov and Bobo-Usmon Baturov, as well as Kazakhstan’s Kairat Yeraliyev and Ablaikhan Zhussupov.

Preeti Pawar’s journey and team outlook

Preeti Pawar, who won a gold medal in the women’s 54kg category at the Commonwealth Games by defeating Scarlett Delgado of Canada, reflected on her victory as a valuable learning experience for the upcoming Asian Games and the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. She noted that her bouts at the Commonwealth Games provided significant experience, despite not being “extremely tough,” and will aid her preparations for future competitions.

Pawar hails from Bhiwani, a region known for its strong boxing culture, often referred to as ‘Mini Cuba’. This area has produced notable boxers such as Vijender Singh, Jitender Kumar, and Akhil Kumar. The local environment, with parental involvement in training and nutrition, along with numerous boxing clubs, contributes to the development of competitive talent. Many boxers from the medal-winning Commonwealth Games squad, including Pawar, Sachin Siwach, Jaismine Lamboria, and Sakshi Choudhary, are from Haryana, with some specifically from Bhiwani.

The Indian team will face the Asian Games without two Commonwealth champions, Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), whose weight categories are not part of the Asian Games program. This absence means the country will be without two potential medalists.

Challenges and future aspirations

The President of the Boxing Federation of India, Ajay Singh, stated that the Asian Games are akin to the Olympics for India, emphasizing the strength of Asian boxing nations like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China. He highlighted that replicating the Commonwealth Games performance at the Asian Games would be challenging but noted that a significant medal count at the Asian Games could indicate potential for success at the Olympics.

Women’s head coach Santiago Nieva echoed this assessment, acknowledging the strong competition at the Asian Games. He stressed that the team is on the right path and that the boxers are aware they cannot rest on their recent success. India’s previous performance at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou yielded one silver and three bronze medals.

Pawar’s personal journey has included overcoming challenges, such as a bout of hepatitis before the Paris Olympics. Her early career saw rapid progress, including a silver medal at the Khelo India Games and a subsequent gold. She also secured a bronze medal in the 54kg category at the Asian Games. The upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya will be a crucial test to gauge India’s progress against Asia’s top boxing talent and assess its medal potential for the 2028 Olympics.

Preeti Pawar expressed that her mindset before the Commonwealth Games final was to give India a strong start, as her bout was the first in the finals. She maintained an aggressive approach in the initial rounds, following her coaches’ plan, and then shifted to enjoying the moment in the final round after securing a lead.

The team’s collective mindset at the Commonwealth Games was focused on giving their best in the ring, with a strong desire to win. Preeti Pawar hopes that the contingent can surpass their own record at the next Commonwealth Games.

The Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, will run from September 19 to October 4.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com