Sports: India’s boxing contingent is all set to make its mark at the upcoming World Championships in Liverpool, with star pugilists Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen confirmed among the 20-member strong squad. The selections follow a rigorous week-long assessment camp held at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala, where the country’s top boxing talent vied for a spot in the prestigious global event.
The tournament, scheduled from September 4 to 14, holds particular significance as it will be the inaugural World Championships organised under the newly formed governing body, World Boxing. Adding to the excitement, this edition marks a historic first, as both male and female boxers will compete simultaneously for the coveted World Boxing Champion titles in an Olympics-style format, across 10 distinct weight categories.
Both Zareen, a two-time world champion, and Borgohain, an Olympic bronze medallist from Tokyo, had notable absences from the women’s nationals in March. Zareen was sidelined due to an injury, while Borgohain’s non-participation stemmed from internal strife within the Assam state boxing federation. However, their recent outing at the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament in Hyderabad earlier this month saw them return to the national camp, though they subsequently missed the recent World Cup in Astana.
The men’s squad boasts impressive talent, including Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+ kg), alongside two-time World Cup winners Hitesh Gulia (70kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), among other promising names.
The complete women’s squad features Meenakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Sanju Khatri (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (60kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), and Nupur Sheoran (80+ kg). The men’s team comprises Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach jr (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh Gulia (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo Ahlawat (85kg), Harsh Chaudhary (90kg), and Narender Berwal (90+ kg).
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