Asian Games Boxing: Lovlina, Narender and India’s medal hopes face tough draw

ByTech Word News

The Indian boxing contingent was given a tough ride at the Asian Games, with several medal contenders drawn against Olympic and World medalists. The challenge begins with Lovlina Borgohain and Narender Berwal entering the competition in the quarterfinals.

Lovlina, Olympic bronze medalist from Tokyo and the 2023 Asian Games silver medalist will open her 75kg campaign against South Korea’s Suyeon Seong. A win would guarantee her a medal, but could bring reigning 70kg world champion Natalja Bogdan of Kazakhstan or bronze medalist Aziza Zokirov of Uzbekistan into the semi-finals.

Narender, the only Indian boxer to have won a medal at the previous Asian Games, also has a quarter-final start in the +90kg category. He will face Thailand’s Adthapong Saengtep and could then face reigning world champion Aibek Oralbay of Kazakhstan.

Other Indian boxers have little room for an easy start. Commonwealth Games champion Sakshi Chaudhary will take on Paris bronze medalist Aira Villegas of the Philippines in the 51kg category. Priya Ghanghas opens against South Korea’s Oh Yeonji, a former Asian Games winner and three-time Asian champion.

Preeti Pawar has a first-round bye but could face defending Asian Games champion Pang Chol-mi in the 54kg quarter-finals. Parveen Hooda opens her 65kg campaign against Tajikistan’s Hozimova.

Among the men, Jadumani Singh, Sachin Siwach, Sumit Kundu and Ankush Panghal also placed on tough tracks.

The stakes are higher than the medals themselves. As part of the Boxing Federation of India’s selection policy, Asian Games medalists will receive direct qualification for next year’s World Championships in Kazakhstan, the first Olympic qualifying event before Los Angeles 2028.

ASIAN GAMES 2026: INDIA’S COMPLETE BOXING SCHEDULE

Men 55 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 22 – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam Vs. Chandra Bahadur Thapa (Nepal)
  • Pre-Quarter, September 26 – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (If Qualified) Vs. Carlo Paalam (Philippines)
  • Quarter Finals, September 28 – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (if qualified) Vs.
  • Semi-Finals, September 30 – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (if qualified) Vs.
  • Final, October 2 – Jadumani Singh Mandengbam (If Qualified) Vs.

Men 60 kg

  • Pre Quarter, 25th September – Sachin Vs. ON
  • Quarter Finals, September 27 – Sachin (if qualified) Vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, September 29 – Sachin (if qualified) Vs. ON
  • Final, October 2 – Sachin (if qualified) Vs

Men 70 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 21 – Sumit vs. Bunjong Sinsiri (Thailand)
  • Pre-Quarter, September 24 – Sumit (if qualified) Vs. ON
  • Quarter Finals, September 28 – Sumit (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, 30 September – Sumit (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Finals, October 2 – Sumit (if qualified) vs. ON

Men 80 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 23 – Ankush vs Hamsa Vogel (Bahrain)
  • Quarter Finals, September 27 – Ankush (if qualifies)
  • Semi-Finals, September 29 – Ankush (if qualifies)
  • Final, October 2 – Ankush (if qualified)

Men 90 kg

  • Prelims, September 26 – Kapil Pokhariya Vs. Sam Estaki (Iran)
  • Quarter Finals, September 28 – Kapil Pokhariya (if qualified) Vs
  • Semi-Finals, 30 September – Kapil Pokhariya (if qualified) Vs
  • Final, October 2 – Kapil Pokhariya (if qualified) vs. ON

Men over 90 kg

  • Quarter Finals, September 27 – Narender Vs. Adthapong Saentep (Thailand) vs.
  • Semi-Finals, 29 September – Narender (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Final, October 2 – Narender (if qualified) vs. ON

Women 51 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 22 – Sakshi vs Alra Villegas (Philippines)
  • Pre Quarter 24th September – Sakshi (If Qualified) Vs. ON
  • Quarter Finals, September 28 – Sakshi (if she qualifies) Vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, 30 September – Sakshi (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Finals, October 2 – Sakshi (if she qualifies) Vs. ON

Women 54 kg

  • Pre-Quarter 25th September – Preeti Vs. ON
  • Quarter Finals, 27 September – Preeti (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, 29 September – Preeti (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Final, October 2 – Preeti (if qualified) vs. ON

Women 60 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 26 – Priya vs Yeonji Oh (South Korea)
  • Pre-Quarter, September 28 – Priya (if qualified) Vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, 30 September – Priya (if qualified) Vs
  • Finals, October 2 – Priya (if qualified) vs

Women 65 kg

  • Preliminaries, September 24 – Parveen Vs. Malika Nozimova (Tajikistan)
  • Quarter Finals, September 27 – Parveen (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Semi-Finals, September 29 – Parveen (if qualified) vs. ON
  • Final, October 2 – Parveen (if qualified) vs. ON

Women 75 kg

  • Quarterfinals, September 28 – Lovlina Borgohain vs. Suyeon Seong (South Korea)
  • Semi-Finals, September 30 – Lovlina Borgohain (if she qualifies) vs
  • Final, October 2 – Lovlina Borgohain (if qualified) vs. ON

– The end

Issued by:

Amar Panicker

Published on:

20 Sep 2026 19:07 IST