Commonwealth Games 2026: All you need to know about Kapil Pokhariya

For Kapil Pokhariya, boxing wasn't a childhood dream chased from a young age. It began almost by chance, on the suggestion of a friend, back in 2016.

A decade on, that decision has taken him to the top tier of India's heavyweight boxing programme.

Early days

Hailing from Chakarpur village in Udham Singh Nagar district of Uttarakhand, Kapil has emerged as one of the country's most reliable performers in the men's 90kg (cruiserweight) category, built on a combination of powerful punching, physical resilience and a disciplined approach in the ring.

Kapil's introduction to boxing came relatively late by competitive standards, with his interest sparked after a friend introduced him to the sport in 2016.

What followed was a steady, methodical rise through India's boxing structure rather than a meteoric breakthrough, as Kapil worked his way up through domestic competitions to catch the attention of national selectors.

Rising through the ranks

Kapil's progress became increasingly visible through 2025 and 2026, a period in which he added a gold medal at the National Games to his résumé along with a silver medal at the Grand Prix in the Czech Republic, one of the more competitive tournaments on the amateur boxing calendar.

His rise did not go unnoticed back home either. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami publicly congratulated Kapil after his selection for India's national squads, describing him as a source of pride for the state and an inspiration for its youth.

He now trains under the Inspire Institute of Sport (IIS) programme in Bellary, alongside a group of India's most promising Olympic-sport athletes, having also come through the well-regarded Gohana Boxing Club in Sonipat, Haryana.

Eyes on Commonwealth Games glory

India's boxing contingent arrives in Glasgow with a rich Commonwealth Games legacy, having claimed 44 medals across previous editions, including 11 gold.

Kapil begins his 90kg campaign from the Round of 16 as one of the boxers expected to push deep into the competition, at the Scottish Event Campus.

Having steadily built his case over the past two years with strong performances against continental and world-class opposition, Kapil Pokhariya now has the chance to translate that progress into India's next boxing medal on the biggest stage of his career.