Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen will lead India’s 20-member squad at the Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia from March 28 to April 11.
The squad was finalised after a month-long evaluation process, with boxers inducted into the ongoing national camp in Patiala following the National Championships in January. As per selection policy, finalists in approved weight categories at the continental event will earn direct entry into the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games squads, making the tournament a crucial qualification pathway.
Lovlina, competing in the 75kg category, recently won gold at the Boxam Elite Championship in Spain and will headline the women’s team alongside Preeti 54kg, Arundhati Choudhary 70kg, and Priya 60kg, who also claimed gold in Spain.
Reigning world champions Minakshi 48kg and Jaismine 57kg strengthen the lineup.
The squad also includes Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), and Alfiya Tarannum Akram Khan Pathan (80kg).
In the men’s section, World Boxing Cup Final and Boxam gold medallist Sachin (60kg) leads the team. He is joined by Akash (75kg), Deepak (70kg), Ankush (80kg), and Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (55kg), among others. Vishwanath Suresh (50kg), Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg), Lokesh (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), and Narender (90kg) complete the squad.
BFI President Ajay Singh said the focus was on selecting boxers who have shown form and consistency, expressing confidence in the team’s ability to compete strongly in Asia.