Lovlina Borgohain, Sakshi Chaudhary qualify for Asian Games and CWG 2026
Synopsis
Lovlina Borgohain's 5-0 demolition of Sanamacha Chanu was expected — but Sakshi Chaudhary's back-to-back dismissals of Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Hooda at the Patiala trials signal a genuine power shift in Indian women's boxing. India's 2026 multi-sport squads are set, and a new rivalry is quietly taking shape.
Key Takeaways
Lovlina Borgohain won the women's 75kg final 5-0 against Sanamacha Chanu to qualify for both Asian Games 2026 and Commonwealth Games 2026 .
Sakshi Chaudhary defeated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in the semis and world champion Minakshi Hooda 5-0 in the final at 51kg .
The trials were held in Patiala on 15 May 2025 as the final selection route for boxers who missed automatic qualification in Ulaanbaatar .
India's Asian Games 2026 boxing squad includes 5 women and 6 men ; the CWG 2026 squad includes 7 women and 7 men .
Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow (23 Jul–2 Aug); Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (19 Sep–4 Oct).
Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain and emerging contender Sakshi Chaudhary sealed their berths in India's boxing squads for the Asian Games 2026 and Commonwealth Games 2026 with commanding victories at the national selection trials held in Patiala on Friday, 15 May. The trials served as the final gateway for boxers who had not earned automatic qualification at the continental championships.
Lovlina Books Her Return to the Big Stage
Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist and former world champion Lovlina Borgohain, 28, dominated the women's 75kg final, defeating Sanamacha Chanu by a unanimous 5-0 scoreline to confirm her place in both marquee multi-sport events. The Assam boxer had narrowly missed automatic qualification at last month's Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, where she fell short of the final — the threshold set by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) for direct selection in categories featuring in both Games.
Lovlina, who claimed silver at the 2023 Asian Games and narrowly missed a podium finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, left nothing to chance this time, advancing through the trials with authority. Notably, this is the third consecutive major multi-sport cycle in which she has secured a spot on the Indian team.
Sakshi Chaudhary Stuns Zareen, Claims 51kg Berth
The women's 51kg category produced the trials' most talked-about results. Sakshi Chaudhary defeated reigning 48kg world champion Minakshi Hooda by a 5-0 margin in the final to book her place in both squads. Her path to the final was equally striking — she had earlier eliminated two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in the semifinals, a result that underscored her rapid ascent through Indian boxing's ranks.
Minakshi had reached the final after defeating former world champion and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nitu Ghanghas in the semis. Her situation is a consequence of category misalignment: although she won gold in the 48kg division at the Asian Boxing Championships, that weight class is not part of the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games programme, compelling her to compete at 51kg.
Automatic Qualifiers and Category-Specific Spots
Several Indian boxers had already locked in their places based on Asian Championships performances. Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) — all finalists in Ulaanbaatar — earned automatic selection for both Games. World championship bronze medallist Parveen Hooda and Asian Games medallist Narender Berwal also confirmed their places by winning their respective trials bouts.
Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg) qualified exclusively for the Commonwealth Games, as their weight categories do not feature in the Asian Games programme.
India's Full Squads for Asian Games and CWG 2026
Asian Games 2026 — Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg). Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg).
Commonwealth Games 2026 — Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg). Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg).
What Comes Next
The Commonwealth Games 2026 are scheduled in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August, while the Asian Games 2026 will be held in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. With the squads now finalised, India's boxing contingent will be expected to mount a strong medal campaign on both fronts — particularly with Lovlina and Sakshi leading a generation in transition.
Point of View
Which ties automatic qualification to continental championship finalists, is sensible in principle, but Minakshi Hooda's situation exposes a structural flaw: a world champion in 48kg forced to move up because her division isn't on the Games programme, then losing to a younger rival. India's boxing pipeline is deepening, but category mismatches risk sidelining proven medal prospects at the worst time.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Lovlina Borgohain qualify for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games 2026?
Lovlina Borgohain qualified by winning the women's 75kg final at the national boxing trials in Patiala on 15 May, defeating Sanamacha Chanu 5-0. She had missed automatic selection after failing to reach the final at the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, which was the BFI's threshold for direct qualification.
Who is Sakshi Chaudhary and why is her qualification significant?
Sakshi Chaudhary is an emerging Indian boxer who won the women's 51kg category at the Patiala trials, defeating two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen 4-1 in the semifinals and world champion Minakshi Hooda 5-0 in the final. Her back-to-back wins over established champions mark her as one of India's top boxing prospects.
Why did Nikhat Zareen not qualify for the Asian Games 2026?
Nikhat Zareen was eliminated in the semifinals of the 51kg national trials by Sakshi Chaudhary, losing 4-1. She did not advance to the final and therefore did not secure a spot in the Indian squad for either the Asian Games or Commonwealth Games 2026.
When and where are the Asian Games 2026 and Commonwealth Games 2026?
The Commonwealth Games 2026 will be held in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August. The Asian Games 2026 are scheduled in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October.
Which Indian boxers qualified automatically without going through the trials?
Sachin Siwach (men's 60kg), Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg), and Priya Ghanghas (women's 60kg) earned automatic selection by reaching the finals at the Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar. Parveen Hooda and Narender Berwal also secured their places by winning their respective trial bouts.
