The Indian men’s boxing team, featuring a predominantly youthful lineup, is poised for a demanding challenge at the AIBA World Championships commencing on Monday. Despite facing a formidable field, the team remains optimistic about matching or surpassing the two medals earned in the previous edition.
Amit Panghal, the world’s top-ranked boxer, and Manish Kaushik, a bronze medalist in 2019, are notably absent from the squad, recovering from a disappointing Olympic campaign. The team’s experienced core includes Asian medalists Deepak Kumar (51kg), Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), and Sanjeet (92kg), with Sanjeet holding the title of reigning Asian champion. Deepak is a former silver medalist, while Shiva boasts a remarkable five-time podium finish at the continental showpiece. Shiva is the sole participant with prior World Championships experience, having secured a bronze in the 2015 edition.
The remaining 10 members of the squad, all newly-crowned national champions, are eager to leave their mark, compensating for the team’s relative lack of experience. Accompanied by a revamped support staff led by High Performance Director Santiago Nieva and newly-appointed head coach Narender Rana, the team is prepared for this significant event.
Nieva’s tenure with the Indian team concludes with this championship, following the decision of the Boxing Federation of India not to extend his contract post the Tokyo Olympics. The preparation for the championship has been less than ideal, with the boxers having only about 10 days of practice after the national championship.
The tournament in Belgrade will feature revised weight categories, expanded from 10 to 13 divisions. With over 600 boxers from 105 countries participating, gold medalists stand to receive USD 100,000, silver medalists USD 50,000, and bronze medalists USD 25,000 each. Notable AIBA world champions from Cuba, such as Andy Cruz Gomez, Roniel Iglesias, Arlen Lopez, Julio La Cruz, and Lazaro Alvarez, are expected to compete.
In an effort to symbolize a “fresh start” in the sport, the AIBA has introduced commemorative belts and white gloves instead of the traditional red and blue during the tournament. The focus will also be on judges and referees, as the AIBA seeks to rebuild credibility following an internal inquiry revealing widespread result manipulation during the 2016 Rio Olympics, tarnishing the sport’s reputation. The world body is determined to ensure a clean championship in light of this challenging backdrop.