Roman Reigns inspired his strikes; Andre Russell Earned His Nickname: Meet Army Havaldar and Asian Games Medalist Kapil Pokhariya

Kapil Pokhariya’s fascination with pro wrestler Roman Reigns was well known in his locality. (Image credit: Special Arrangements) NEW DELHI: Jumping on cotton-filled mattresses, punching pillows, throwing them over walls and punching a home-made punching bag filled with mountain soil – Kapil Pokhariya’s childhood was all about pro-wrestling.His fascination with pro-wrestler Roman Reigns was well known in his locality. He would skip meals, playtime, and trips to watch WWE programming on television. Once the show was over, he tried to copy the moves and punches at home.Little did he know that this childhood charm could one day bring him the greatest recognition.Today, Kapil – a Havaldar in the Indian Army – is an Asian Games medalist. Kapil won bronze in men’s 90kg boxing at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.“I never knew copying Roman Reigns and practicing those punches would take me so far. I used to save his videos and still have them. I’m really proud of where I am today. Honestly, I started learning how to throw punches by copying Roman Reigns (laughs),” Kapil told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“My favorites were WrestleMania and Money in the Bank,” he said.

From Khatima to the stage of the Asian Games

Kapil hails from Chakarpur village in Khatima, Uttarakhand, far from the big boxing centers that have produced several Indian stars.His father, Narendra Singh Pokhariya, served in the Indian Army. He wanted his son to study well and join the army as an officer. However, the box was never part of the original plan.

Kapil Pokhariya with his father (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

Narendra often watched his son copy WWE stars at home. At first he scolded him and even beat him for damaging things around the house. But his view slowly changed when he saw Kapil pouring sand into a thick bag after returning from school and punched it with all his might.“A teacher taught boxing in a nearby school. I saw students punching a bag and decided to make one myself. My father scolded me at first, but later took me to a training center and got me accepted there. That’s how I got into boxing,” said Kapil.

From a small training ground to a boxing ring

Kapil did not start his boxing journey in a big academy. His first steps were towards a small training ground, where he trained alongside boys his age and older ones. After a few months, he started training under a coach.“I come from a small village where boxing was never a popular sport. There was Mr. Pooran Bohra. He trained a small group of boys for just a few hours on selected days of the week. But I was interested in learning. I listened to him carefully and repeated everything he taught me when I returned home,” said Kapil.Over time, Kapil developed as a boxer and in 2015, he participated in his first state-level competition. He went into the tournament with enthusiasm, but left disappointed. His first competitive match ended in an opening round defeat.“I was really disappointed. It was the first fight in my life and the first time I saw such a big crowd. I lost in the first round. But the competition and the defeat taught me a lot. My interest in boxing grew even more after that,” he said.

Kapil Pokhariya (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

Kapil returned to the national competition with a different mindset. This time he was able to do more than just win his matches – he also won a gold medal. The prize money was followed by a job in the Indian Army. He joined the force in April 2017 and was appointed as a havaldar. His boxing career took a big step forward after that.The Army gave him the opportunity to improve his skills and compete at a higher level. He began training more seriously, participating in service competitions, winning medals and continuing to grow as a boxer.“My father wanted me to study and join the army as an officer. He joined as a sepoy and left as a havaldar. But he wanted me to attain a higher rank if I joined the Indian Army,” Kapil said.“He was very happy. The day I won the national medal, he hugged me. That’s when I realized I had achieved something big in my life,” Kapil said.“Now that I have won this medal in the Asian Games, I will be promoted to naib subedar. Papa said, ‘Ab tu mera senior ho gaya hai’,” the Indian boxer recalled with a smile.

Kapil Pokhariya (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

“Andre Russell” of Khatima

Like many kids in India, Kapil grew up playing cricket in the gullies. He even played inter-village cricket in Uttarakhand.His height, muscular build and powerful hitting made him a popular figure on the local cricket grounds. His ability to hit big sixes earned him the nickname ‘Russell’, after West Indies power hitter Andre Russell.“I loved Andre Russell. I also liked Hardik Pandya. People called me ‘Khatima ka Russell’ because of my power. Guys wanted me in their team because I could hit big sixes,” he said with a laugh.

Kapil Pokhariya (Image Credit: Special Arrangement)

The Way Forward and the LA 2028 Dream

For Kapil, the Asian Games bronze is just the beginning. His biggest dream is to represent India at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and win a medal.As per the Boxing Federation of India selection criteria, Asian Games medalists will be selected as main participants in their respective weight categories for the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The tournament is scheduled for April and will be boxing’s first qualifying event for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.Kapil knows there is still a long way to go. “There is no stopping now, only looking forward,” he said.“The Olympics is the ultimate dream. I want to go there, represent my country and win a medal. That’s the only thing on my mind right now. I’m preparing for the World Championships in April,” he added.