Asian Games 2026: Lovlina, Narender get quarterfinal starts as India face tough draws

Indian boxers were handed challenging draws on Sunday even as Lovlina Borgohain and Narender Berwal begin their campaigns in the quarterfinals.

The record-breaking performance at the recent Commonwealth Games has raised expectations around the Indian contingent, but the challenge at the Asian Games is a lot tougher.

The Asian Games features six men's and five women's weight categories. India had won four medals, including one silver and three bronze, in the previous edition.

Tokyo Olympic medallist Lovlina, who won silver in the 2023 edition, is one win away from a medal in the 75kg category, which features only eight boxers.

She opens the campaign against South Korea's Suyeon Seong and could then face reigning 70kg world champion Natalya Bogdanova of Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan's world bronze medallist Aziza Zokirova in the semifinal.

CWG gold medallist Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg) faces a tough opener against Paris Olympic bronze medallist Aira Villegas of the Philippines.

While Reigning Asian Championships gold medallist Preeti Pawar (54kg) has a first-round bye and is expected to face North Korea's Pang Chol-mi, the defending Asian Games champion, Olympic bronze medallist and two-time world champion.

Priya Ghanghas (60kg), also an Asian Championships gold medallist this year, opens against South Korea's Oh Yeonji, a two-time world bronze medallist, former Asian Games champion and three-time Asian champion.

World Championships bronze medallist Parveen Hooda (65kg), who was stripped of her medal from the previous edition after being suspended, starts against Tajikistan's Hozimova in the round of 16.

She could then face Uzbekistan's Navbakhor Khamidova, a silver medallist at both the World Championships organised by World Boxing and the IBA last year.

Among the men, Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jadumani Singh (55kg) opens against Nepal's Chandra Thapa and could face Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Carlo Paalam of the Philippines in the pre-quarterfinals.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sachin Siwach (60kg) has a first-round bye and could face World Championships bronze medallist Mohammad Abu Jajeh of Jordan in the pre-quarterfinals.

Sumit Kundu (75kg) will be the first Indian boxer in the ring on Monday and could face 20-year-old reigning world champion Torekhan Sabyrkhan of Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals.

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ankush Panghal (80kg) is likely to run into reigning 75kg world champion Fazliddin Erkinboev in the semifinals.

Narender (+90kg), the only Indian male boxer to win a medal at the previous edition, has a first-round bye and opens against Thailand's Adthapong Saengtep in the quarterfinals. He could then run into reigning world champion Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan in the semifinals.

Direct qualification for World Championships

Under the Boxing Federation of India's selection policy, Asian Games medallists will directly qualify for next year's World Championships in Kazakhstan, which will be the first Olympic qualifying event ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

It gives the Indian boxers an added motivation to strive for the podium here.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Bridge Desk. It is published from a syndicated feed)