Boxing at Asian Games 2026: Can India build on Commonwealth success in Japan? – Preview

India's boxing contingent returns to the Asian Games with momentum behind it after a strong Commonwealth Games campaign.

Eleven Indian boxers, six men and five women, will compete across 11 weight categories in Aichi-Nagoya as India look to add to a rich Asian Games history in the sport.

India have won 61 boxing medals at the Asian Games, including nine gold, 17 silver and 35 bronze. The challenge in Japan, however, will be considerably tougher, with the continent's biggest boxing nations, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China, all bringing strong contingents.

The 20th Asian Games run from September 19 to October 4, with boxing forming part of the competition through the final week of the Games.

A tough road through the men's draw 

India's men's contingent features six boxers, with Jadumani Singh, Sachin Siwach, Sumit Kundu, Ankush, Kapil Pokhariya and Narender Berwal competing across the lighter, middle and heavyweight categories.

Jadumani Singh will compete in the 55kg category and faces a field containing several major names from the region. Uzbekistan's Samandar Olimov, Kazakhstan's Makhmud Sabyrkhan and China's Zhang Jiamao could all provide difficult tests.

The challenge gets even tougher for Sachin Siwach in the 60kg category.

Uzbekistan's Abdumalik Khalokov, the reigning Olympic and world champion, is among the leading names in the division and represents the kind of opposition India will have to overcome for a medal.

Sumit Kundu will compete in 70kg and could encounter Kazakhstan's Torekhan Sabyrkhan, the reigning world champion. Japan's Sewonrets Okazawa and Jordan's Zeyad Eashash are other names to watch in the category.

At 80kg, Ankush could find himself up against strong opposition from Kazakhstan, China and Uzbekistan. Fazliddin Erkinboev and Javokhir Ummataliev are among the leading names, while China's Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan brings Asian Games pedigree after winning the 80kg title at Hangzhou 2023.

The heavyweight challenge

Kapil Pokhariya will compete in the 90kg category, while Narender Berwal will represent India in the +90kg division.

Berwal faces perhaps the most imposing names on India's men's squad.

Uzbekistan's Bakhodir Jalolov remains one of the dominant heavyweight boxers in the world. The Uzbek won Asian Games gold in 2023 and has also collected Olympic and world titles.

Kazakhstan's Kamshybek Kunkabayev provides another major challenge in the heavyweight field.

For Berwal, progressing deep into the draw will require navigating two of the most established heavyweight programmes in Asian boxing.

Can Priya turn recent form into Asian Games gold?

India's women's contingent contains several boxers with the potential to make a deep run.

Sakshi Chaudhary will compete in the 51kg category, where China's Wu Yu is among the biggest names in the field. Wu is the reigning Olympic and Asian champion, while Thailand's Chuthamat Raksat is another experienced opponent.

Preeti Pawar will compete in 54kg and could face strong opposition from the established boxing nations of China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei.

Priya Ghanghas, meanwhile, arrives with considerable momentum.

The 60kg boxer won gold at the Asian Boxing Championships after defeating China's Chengyu Yang, the 2023 world champion and 2025 world silver medallist. She also defeated North Korea's Won Un-gyong in the final of the 2026 Asian Elite Championships.

Those victories provide Ghanghas with evidence that she can beat some of the biggest names in the Asian field.

Her challenge now is to reproduce that level over an Asian Games tournament where one difficult bout can end a medal campaign.

Lovlina faces a familiar rival

Lovlina Borgohain will compete in the women's 75kg category and enters with her own history against China's Li Qian.

The two have met on some of the biggest stages in women's boxing.

Lovlina defeated Li on her way to winning the 2023 World Championship title. Li subsequently defeated the Indian 5-0, underlining how closely matched their contests can be.

Li is a multiple Olympic medallist and won gold at Paris 2024.

For Lovlina, another meeting would provide an opportunity to once again test herself against one of the most decorated boxers in her category.

Parveen Hooda, meanwhile, will compete in 65kg, where boxers from China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Chinese Taipei are expected to provide the major challenges.

The Asian boxing powers stand in India's way

India's 61-medal history shows that the country has long been a major force in Asian boxing.

The current field, however, contains some of the world's strongest programmes.

Uzbekistan arrive with Olympic and world champions across several categories, including Khalokov and Jalolov.

Kazakhstan bring strength across both men's and women's divisions, with world champions and established Asian Games contenders.

China are particularly dangerous in the women's competition and have several reigning Olympic and Asian champions.

Thailand, North Korea, Chinese Taipei and the hosts Japan will add further depth to the draws.

For India, the challenge will be to convert individual opportunities into a sizeable medal haul rather than relying on one or two headline contenders.

Format

Boxing at the Asian Games will be contested through knockout draws.

The early rounds will determine the quarter-finalists, followed by the semi-finals and gold-medal bouts.

The semi-final winners will advance to the gold-medal bouts, while the losing semi-finalists will receive bronze medals.

India's boxers will compete across six men's and five women's categories.

Indian Squad

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg)

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg)

Schedule

September 21-28 - Preliminary rounds, including early rounds and Round of 32/16

September 29 - Men's and women's semi-finals begin

September 30 - Remaining semi-final bouts

October 2 - Finals and gold-medal bouts

Where to Watch?

The Asian Games boxing competition will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on SonyLIV in India.