Nikhat and Lovlina’s international return in focus as Indian boxers glove up for World championships

Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain will be the centre of attraction for Indian fans as the country’s boxers are all set to participate in the first-ever World boxing championships organised by the new international federation, World Boxing (WB), in Liverpool on Thursday.

This will be the first World championships for amateur boxers in more than two years after the International Olympic Committee disaffiliated the International Boxing Association and replaced it with WB to conduct Olympic-style boxing.

India has fielded a squad featuring a mix of youth and experience.

Notwithstanding their exceptional track records, two-time World champion Nikhat and Worlds gold medallist and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina were away from action for several months after the Paris Olympics. This will be their first international event in more than a year.

Besides her quest to find top form, a major challenge for the unseeded Nikhat, who had a disappointing outing in Paris, would be to fit into 51kg.

Lovlina (75kg), seeded second for her Paris quarterfinal finish, is understood to have regained some rhythm.

Counterpuncher Olympian Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg) has been sharpening her attacks, while the seasoned Pooja Rani (80kg) is keen to make an impact.

The best bet for India seems to be two-time World youth champion Sakshi Chaudhary (54kg), who toppled some big names during the two World Cups.

“Our sparring was good and now it’s about executing our plans,” said women’s head coach D. Chandralal.

The Indian women went through the mandatory gender test before leaving for the United Kingdom.

Prominent faces

For the men, former World youth champion Sachin Siwach (60kg) and Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+kg) are the prominent faces. Jadumani Singh (50kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) and Sumit Kundu (75kg), who is returning after a two-year injury lay-off, are the other talented boxers.

Jadumani and Pawan Bartwal (60kg) are being monitored for their weights.

“Despite the delay in visas, our boxers utilised the time spent at the Sheffield camp well to get acclimatised. Our confidence is high,” said men’s head coach Dharmendra Singh.

Altogether 11 out of 20 Indian boxers, including five women, have been seeded for the event.

The squad: Men: Jadumani Singh (50kg), Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Sumit Kundu (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Narender Berwal (90+kg).

Women: Minakshi (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (54kg), Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg), Sanju (60kg), Neeraj Phogat (65kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg) and Nupur Sheoran (80+kg).