Commonwealth Games 2026: Can Indian boxing deliver again?

The Commonwealth Games 2026 are set to take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2. As India prepares for another edition of the Games, boxing will once again be one of the country's biggest medal hopes.

Over the years, boxing has been one of India's most successful sports at the Commonwealth Games, with 44 medals to its name. India will be aiming to add to that tally and continue its strong run in the sport.

The 2026 edition will feature only 10 sports after the original host, the Australian state of Victoria, withdrew from hosting the Games in 2023 due to financial concerns. Scotland later stepped in to host a smaller and more cost-effective edition of the Games. Among the sports retained is boxing, a discipline that has consistently contributed to India's medal tally over the years.

India has competed in boxing at the Commonwealth Games since 1970 and has won 44 medals in the sport, including 11 gold, 13 silver, and 20 bronze medals. India is the ninth most successful nation in Commonwealth Games boxing history.

For Glasgow 2026, India has named a 14-member squad, with seven men and seven women set to compete. The Games will also mark the first time that boxing will feature equal gender parity, with seven weight categories each for men and women.

India's squad for Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg)

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg)

India's history in boxing at the Commonwealth Games

India's first boxing medal came in 1970 when Shivaji Bhonsle won bronze in the men's welterweight category. More than three decades later, Mohammad Ali Qamar became the first Indian boxer to win Commonwealth Games gold after topping the light flyweight division in 2002.

Indian women's boxing also created history at the Games. Pinki Rani became the first Indian woman to win a Commonwealth Games boxing medal with bronze in 2014. Four years later, Mary Kom became the first Indian woman to win a Commonwealth Games boxing gold medal.

India's most successful boxing campaign came at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, where the country won nine medals, including three gold, three silver, and three bronze medals. At Birmingham 2022, India added seven more medals, including three gold medals won by Nikhat Zareen, Nitu Ghanghas, and Amit Panghal.

Why India will be hopeful of medals from boxing

Lovlina Borgohain enters the Games as one of India's biggest medal hopes. The Olympic bronze medallist and world champion recently won gold in the 75kg category at the Boxam Elite International 2026 tournament. Despite representing India at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, she is still searching for her first Commonwealth Games medal.

Sakshi Chaudhary has emerged as another strong contender after an impressive run at the national trials. She secured her place in the squad by defeating world champions Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Hooda before backing it up with a gold medal at the Grand Prix competition in the Czech Republic.

Jaismine Lamboria also arrives in strong form. The Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and Paris Olympian holds the world No. 1 ranking in the 57kg category and won gold at the 2025 World Boxing Championships in Liverpool.

Preeti Pawar has also enjoyed an impressive run of form in recent months. She won gold at both the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem in Czechia and the Asian Boxing Championships in Mongolia, defeating several top international opponents along the way.

Parveen Hooda, who won silver at the Grand Prix Usti nad Labem, will also be looking to add a Commonwealth Games medal to her achievements. 

Among the men, Aditya Pratap Singh, Narender Berwal, and Sachin Siwach head to Glasgow on the back of strong international performances. Siwach, in particular, has built an impressive record across youth and senior competitions and recently won gold at the Grand Prix Championship 2026 in the Czech Republic.

With a strong squad, a rich history, and several boxers arriving in good form, India will hope boxing once again plays a major role in its Commonwealth Games medal campaign.