Lovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen Return to India’s Squad for World Boxing Championships

The squad was finalized following a week-long assessment camp held at the National Institute of Sports (NIS) in Patiala. This year's tournament marks a new chapter in boxing history as it will be the first World Championships organized under the newly formed governing body, World Boxing. For the first time, both male and female boxers will compete in an Olympics-style event at the same venue for the world title.

Borgohain and Zareen had both missed the women’s national championships held in March. Zareen was recovering from an injury, while Borgohain’s absence was due to a dispute within the Assam state federation, which led to her not being nominated. However, both recently returned to action at the Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament in Hyderabad, earning their places back in the national setup. They had also missed the recent World Cup in Astana.

The women's team includes prominent names like Meenakshi Hooda (48kg), Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), and former Asian champion Pooja Rani (80kg). Borgohain will compete in the 75kg category, while Zareen will fight in the 51kg class.

The men’s squad features experienced pugilists such as Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (90+ kg) and two-time World Cup winners Hitesh Gulia (70kg) and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg).

This edition of the World Championships is expected to be a landmark event in global boxing, offering Indian athletes a vital opportunity to showcase their skills on the world stage.