Indian Women Boxers Finish Atop Asian Games Medal Tally, Says Head Coach

Indian women's boxing head coach Santiago Nieva says finishing number one in the medal table at the Asian Games proves the sport is moving in the right direction. India secured two gold medals and one silver at the Asian Games, following five gold and one silver at the Commonwealth Games.

Performance Highlights

At the continental tournament, India topped the women's boxing standings and the overall boxing pile with three gold and three bronze medals, beating strong teams like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China. Parveen bounced back from a tough draw and an early loss at the Commonwealth Games to claim a major semi-final win over Navbakhor Khamidova of Uzbekistan. Meanwhile, Lovlina secured a confidence-boosting gold medal after defeating world-class opponents Natalya Bogdanova and Ziyi Bao.

Areas of Improvement

Nieva noted that boxers need to control bouts for the full nine minutes rather than losing shape after a couple of good rounds. He pointed out that Sakshi needs to upgrade her offensive and medium-distance boxing to avoid relying too much on long-distance tactics. For Preeti, the focus is on starting matches a little faster, while young Priya needs more experience to maintain her balance and concentration.

Context

Boxing coaches at the elite level constantly work on tactical flexibility so athletes can adapt to different opponents during major international events. Success at continental tournaments like the Asian Games serves as a key stepping stone toward global competitions and Olympic qualifications.