India’s boxing stars are ready to make their mark at the first-ever World Boxing Cup in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, starting Monday. The tournament will be a huge moment for the sport, being the first event hosted by World Boxing after it got provisional recognition from the International Olympic Committee in February. With boxing set to feature in the 2028 LA Olympics, this competition is an important step for the sport’s future.
The Indian team, led by bronze medallist Narender Berwal, consists of 10 talented men who will compete in the newly introduced weight categories. While women’s boxing champions couldn’t make it due to the close timing with the National Championships, the men’s squad is set to showcase their skills on the international stage.
The Indian squad includes the best from the National Championships held in January. These boxers have trained hard for this tournament, with a week-long camp before the competition. Notably, Sumit (85kg) will miss out due to injury, but the rest of the team is ready to fight hard.
The Indian team will face off against some of the top boxers in the world, including Olympians from 19 countries like the USA, France, England, and Kazakhstan.
On Day 1, Lakshya Chahar will be the first Indian boxer in action, competing against Brazil’s Wanderley Pereira, a 2023 World Championship silver medallist, in the 80kg pre-quarterfinals.
Here’s the list of boxers representing India:
- Jadumani S Mandengbam (50kg)
- Manish Rathore (55kg)
- Sachin Siwach (60kg)
- Abhinash Jamwal (65kg)
- Hitesh (70kg)
- Nikhil Dubey (75kg)
- Lakshya Chahar (80kg)
- Jugnoo (85kg)
- Vishal (90kg)
- Narender Berwal (90kg)
It’s an exciting time for Indian boxing as these athletes look to shine on the global stage in a tournament that marks the beginning of a new era.
