CHENNAI: The stakes were already high and now it has escalated. The current batch of Indian boxers will not only be fighting for Asian Games glory in Nishio City, Aichi Prefecture in the next few days but will also for a spot in the 2027 World Championships, which will have quotas for the LA 2028 Olympics on the line.
This is as per Boxing Federation of India selection criteria 2027-2028. "The 2027 World Boxing Championships at Astana, Kazakhstan, is the first Olympic qualification event. Selection shall be as follows: Asian Games 2026 medallists in the Asian Games 2026 weight categories – selected as the main entry in their weight category..," the BFI circular, dated September 14, states.
This means the current team, which included Tokyo Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain, will have a golden opportunity to secure entries for the marquee meet and get a head start. The talented Preeti Sai Pawar is another boxer who has the same opportunity as her weight category (54kg) is also part of Olympic discipline.
If the boxers can secure qualification, they will have enough time to plan their training programme and have an ideal build-up for the 2027 World Boxing Championships, which is due to be held in April next year in Astana, Kazakhstan. "It's a huge opportunity for the likes of Preeti, they'll have a chance of getting that clarity and plan their future," one of the prominent coaches told The New Indian Express.
For those who miss out on medals in the upcoming Games or for the likes of Jaismine Lamboria, who's not part of Asiad squad since her weight category is not part of the programme, the BFI states that they'll have the chance to earn a spot in the Worlds team by winning the national championships, which is expected to be held in December in Guwahati (women) and Patna (men). However, the BFI is yet to make that official.
"For weight categories in which India has not won an Asian Games 2026 medal, and for LA 2028 Olympic weight categories which were not part of the Asian Games 2026 — the Gold medallist of the 10th Elite National Championship shall be selected as the main entry in that weight category, and the Silver medallist shall serve as the reserve entry," the circular adds.
The categories that are part of the Olympics are 55kg, 60 kg, 65kg, 70kg, 80 kg, 90 kg and +91kg for men and 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 65kg, 70kg and 75kg for women. The Olympic qualification period will be held from April 1, 2027 to May 31, 2028.
