Indian boxers Lovlina Borgohain, Parveen Hooda, and Ankush Panghal have returned to India after their impressive gold medal victories at the Asian Games 2026 held in Aichi-Nagoya.
The trio shared their reflections on their remarkable achievements and future aspirations.
Record-Breaking Performance
India wrapped up its participation in the Asian Games with a total of six boxing medals, comprising three gold and three bronze, marking the nation’s best performance in terms of gold medals. Previously, India had secured two golds in boxing during the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Lovlina Borgohain’s Memorable Birthday Gold
Lovlina Borgohain celebrated her 29th birthday in a remarkable way by defeating China’s Bao Ziyi with a score of 5-0 in the women’s 75kg final on October 2. Upon her return to Delhi, Lovlina expressed that winning gold on her birthday made the victory even more significant. She reminisced about her silver medal from the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, stating, “This was a truly special feeling for me. Winning this gold medal on my birthday was a dream come true. The Asian Games is a prestigious event, and achieving this milestone on my birthday made it even more meaningful. After winning silver last time, I was determined to change the color of my medal this time, which made it incredibly special.”
Lovlina is now focused on the Olympics, aiming to improve upon her bronze medal from Tokyo 2020. She stated, “My preparations are now centered on the Olympics. After winning bronze in Tokyo, I missed out in 2024, so I am fully committed to giving my all and upgrading my medal color. I have completed my medal collection after the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which was a significant milestone for me. I approached this with nothing to lose, viewing any outcome as a privilege. I plan to maintain this mindset as I prepare for the World Championships, with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the LA Olympics.”
Parveen Hooda’s Inspiring Comeback
Parveen Hooda clinched gold after a hard-fought victory against Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin, winning 3-2 by split decision in the women’s 65kg final. This victory marked a significant comeback for Parveen, who had previously lost her bronze medal from the 2022 Asian Games due to a doping whereabouts failure. She expressed her joy, saying, “It feels amazing to achieve something for India; it involved a long struggle and hard work, so finally winning gold feels truly wonderful.”
Parveen approached the final against the world No. 1 with confidence, believing in her ability to win. She stated, “My final bout was against the world number one, an Olympic medalist. I knew I had to give it my all; defeating a champion was essential to unlocking my own confidence.”
Ankush Panghal Completes the Golden Trio
Ankush Panghal secured India’s third gold medal in boxing by defeating South Korea’s Kim Min-seong in the men’s 80kg final. This victory made him the first Indian man to win an Asian Games boxing gold since Amit Panghal in 2018. Ankush maintained an aggressive strategy throughout the match, winning the first round 4-1 and the second round 5-0, ultimately securing the gold medal.
Reflecting on his achievement, Ankush stated, “Winning gold is always a wonderful feeling. Amit bhai had previously won it in 2018, and we had discussed the goal of bringing home the gold. The upcoming World Championship marks the start of the Olympic qualification process, which is now my main focus.”
Boxing Federation of India Celebrates Success
Ajay Singh, president of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI), praised the boxers’ performance as the best in the history of Indian boxing at the Asian Games. He attributed this success to the dedication of the athletes, coaches, and support staff, as well as the exposure to international competitions. He remarked, “This is a phenomenal achievement, coming ahead of countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and China. The players have shown remarkable consistency, and the preparation has been exceptional.”
Santiago Nieva, head coach of the Indian women’s national boxing team, emphasized that strong preparations allowed the team to compete effectively against the world’s best, finishing as the top boxing nation at the Asian Games. He stated, “We have participated in strong competitions before, and our preparation has been excellent. We are thrilled to have emerged as the top boxing nation at this high-level competition.”