CHENNAI: A bunch of talented boxers from India, each with their unique set of narratives, were looking to stand tall in Sukhbaatar District, Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), on Thursday. Minakshi Hooda (48kg) and Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) were looking to solidify their No 1 status while Preeti Sai Pawar (54kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), after a predominantly frustrating 2025 due to off-the-ring issues, were looking to show their high aptitude in the ongoing Asian Championships.
As the dust settled, as many as four women pugilists, including the trio of Minakshi, Preeti and Arundhati, walked away with the gold medal. Jaismine, on a comeback trail after shoulder concerns, missed out on the top step but through the course of the continental event, the reigning world champion did enough to suggest that she's a force to be reckoned with. Railways boxer Priya Ghanghas (60kg) also signed off her fairytale campaign on a high.
Alfiya Pathan (+80kg), the sixth boxer from the country to feature on the final day of the women's category, lost her first and only fight in the competition to grab silver. More importantly, the women, as a collective unit, left a strong footprint. The team topped the medals chart while China and Kazakhstan grabbed two gold medals each. Chinese Taipei and Thailand won one gold apiece.
Arundhati's talent has never been in doubt but the former world youth champ, one of the rare boxers from Rajasthan, had concerns about her weight category (earlier 70kg was not part of the Olympic programme) and she had to tussle with a proven force in Lovlina Borgohain for 75kg at the start of her senior career. To add to her misery, she had suffered a wrist injury and was forced to undergo surgery last year.
It was somewhat a similar tale for Preeti, a boxer who's considered to have a high ceiling.
But both have gradually made their way back and this is a timely boost for the duo. Among many things, one thing in common between the two is they both train at the famed Army Sports Institute (ASI), Pune under the watch of coaches like Chhote Lal Yadav, who's more renowned for coaching sport's great MC Mary Kom. In fact, Jaismine is also a trainee at the ASI. Yadav, along with the support from Mohammed Aitesamuddin — who's with the team in Ulaanbaatar — and former Commonwealth Games medallist Devendro Singh, more recently, have had a sizeable influence in their game.
Having been part of their uphill challenges, Yadav, who had been regularly giving them inputs through phone calls, is delighted to see them thrive. Yadav recalled the times when Arundhati was forced to rebuild post surgery. "She was doing smart training, bit by bit and for one year or so, she was mainly using just one hand. It was a tricky spell as we wanted to prevent any further injury. We also worked on her shortcomings and we were also watching fights of every boxer in her weight category, and working accordingly," he said, noting that Arundhati's venomous punching power is one of her strengths.
The coach, who has a wealth of experience at the top level, said that they (coaches) try to keep an open mind, catering to the strengths of the boxers. "I also wanted her to talk to the head coach and find out about his plans. What's their thought-process, their strategies? If it's any different, work on it. I have tried to keep things flexible. The boxer should take forward whichever strategy works best for her."
Discipline is sine qua non at the ASI and Yadav also said that the coaches give tailored training programmes for each individual. Besides sparring sessions with boys, which is far from uncommon, has helped them become stronger and sharper. "I generally make them spar with the boys. In ASI, discipline is foremost. Good food, good rest, good training and recovery is a must. We work on all those aspects. And when it comes to technique, we try to work on the shortcomings. And we also focus on individual programmes and we feel that's highly important."
Jaismine was almost untouchable last season and though far from flawless, had shown signs of winning yet another gold. But on the day, she went down against Thailand's Punrawee Ruenros. "Jaismine is technically sound. But she has to work on her strength and she should become tougher. Toughness is necessary at the elite level," Yadav noted.
Preeti, who beat Paris Games bronze medallist Huang Hsiao-wen in the gold medal fight, is one of the new faces in ASI but she has already left an impression on the likes of Yadav. "Preeti came to us just two or three months ago, just before the nationals. She is also technically astute and has plenty of talent. I believe she will win gold in both upcoming CWG and Asiad and I also feel she can do really well in the upcoming Olympics."
"If they maintain their good work, I feel all three of them can be high performers in the upcoming events and the 2028 Olympics."
Senior pros Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina have been the standard setters in the past. Given their tall ambitions, both fell well short of their marks in this edition. However, the promising youngsters — especially the finalists, with the guidance of their respective support systems, seem to be in a good position to take women's boxing higher.
India returns
Gold: 4 | Silver: 2 | Bronze: 4
Gold winners
Minakshi Hooda (48kg) | Preeti Pawar (54kg) | Priya Ghanghas (60kg) | Arundhati Choudhary (70kg)