Lovlina, Nikhat to lead Indian challenge at Asian Boxing Championships

Lovlina Borgohain and Nikhat Zareen will headline the Indian contingent at the Asian Boxing Championships, an event which carries added significance since spots at the Commonwealth and Asian Games will be up for grabs. The continental championships will be held in Mongolia from March 28 to April 11.

The 20-member squad was finalised after a month-long evaluation that assessed the boxers’ performance at the National Championships in January and the ongoing national camp in Patiala.

As per the BFI policy, the finalists at the Asian meet (in the approved weight categories) will be selected as direct entries for the multi-sport events later this year.

While Lovlina will be in action in 75kg, Preeti Pawar (54kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) and Priya (60kg) have also been included. All four won medals at the recent Boxam Elite International in Spain.

Among men, World Boxing Cup Finals and Boxam International gold medallist Sachin Siwach (60kg) will be a favourite to reach the final.

The squad: Men: Vishwanath Suresh (50kg), Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg), Deepak (70kg), Akash (75kg), Ankush (80kg), Lokesh (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Narender (90+kg).

Women: Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboriya (57kg), Priya (60kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Alfiya Pathan (80+kg).