Parveen Hooda wins Asian Games 2026 gold in women's 65kg boxing
Synopsis
In a historic day for Indian women's boxing, Parveen Hooda and Lovlina Borgohain both claimed gold medals at the Asian Games 2026 — making Parveen only the third Indian woman ever to win an Asiad boxing gold, and completing her redemption after her 2023 bronze was stripped for whereabouts failures.
Key Takeaways
Parveen Hooda won the women's 65kg boxing gold at Asian Games 2026 , defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin by 3-2 .
President Droupadi Murmu congratulated Parveen on X , calling her an inspiration for 'countless youth, especially the girls.' Parveen becomes the third Indian woman boxer to win an Asiad gold, after Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain .
The gold is a redemption story — Parveen's 2023 Asian Games bronze was stripped for whereabouts failures .
Lovlina Borgohain also won gold in the 75kg category , defeating China's Bao Ziyi unanimously 5-0 .
Boxer Parveen Hooda claimed the women's 65kg gold medal at the Asian Games 2026 on Friday, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin in a tightly contested final by a 3-2 split decision. The victory drew an effusive response from President Droupadi Murmu, who took to X to celebrate Parveen's achievement.
President Murmu's Message to Parveen
'I extend my warmest congratulations to Parveen Hooda on winning the Gold Medal in the Women's 65kg Boxing event at the Asian Games 2026,' President Murmu wrote on X. 'You fought your way to the top with skill, courage and conviction. Daughters like you make India feel so proud when our tricolour flutters high, and our national anthem is played in an international competition. This Gold Medal is going to inspire countless youth, especially the girls,' she added.
How the Final Unfolded
Parveen dominated the opening round, sweeping it 5-0. Chen Nien-chin hit back strongly to level matters, winning the second round 5-0 in her favour. With the contest evenly poised heading into the third and final round, Parveen showed composure and punching accuracy, landing decisive counter-punches to edge the decisive frame and clinch the gold.
Redemption After 2023 Asian Games Bronze Stripped
The victory carries additional emotional weight. At the 2023 Asian Games, Parveen had initially won a bronze medal, only for it to be stripped due to whereabouts failures. The gold in 2026 marks a significant personal redemption. She became the third Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal at the Asiad, joining the ranks of Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain.
Lovlina Borgohain Also Strikes Gold
In a banner day for Indian women's boxing, Lovlina Borgohain also claimed the 75kg gold medal at the Nishio Gymnasium, defeating China's Bao Ziyi by a unanimous 5-0 decision. Four judges scored the bout 29-28 in Lovlina's favour, with one awarding her a 30-27 card. Lovlina, who had won a silver at the Commonwealth Games 2026, made it look authoritative — winning the first round 3-2 before bossing the second and third rounds with 4-1 margins each. She became only the second Indian woman boxer to win an Asiad gold, after the legendary Mary Kom, before Parveen added her name to that elite list on the same day.
What This Means for Indian Boxing
Two gold medals for Indian women boxers at a single Asian Games is unprecedented in recent memory and signals the depth of talent emerging from the country's boxing programmes. This comes amid growing investment in combat sports and a renewed focus on international podium finishes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Both performances are expected to raise the profile of women's boxing back home and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Point of View
But the deeper story is systemic. Parveen's 2023 bronze was stripped for whereabouts failures — an administrative lapse, not an athletic one — making this gold as much about India's athlete-management frameworks as her fists. Lovlina's dominance, meanwhile, signals she has moved past her Olympic bronze phase into genuine continental supremacy. Both performances arrive at a critical juncture: with Los Angeles 2028 on the horizon, selectors and sports bodies face pressure to back this momentum with consistent funding, anti-doping compliance support, and elite coaching continuity rather than celebrate today and neglect tomorrow.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Parveen Hooda and what did she win at the Asian Games 2026?
Parveen Hooda is an Indian boxer who won the women's 65kg gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Chinese Taipei's Chen Nien-chin in the final by a 3-2 split decision. She is the third Indian woman boxer to win a gold medal at the Asian Games.
Why was Parveen Hooda's 2023 Asian Games medal stripped?
Parveen Hooda's bronze medal from the 2023 Asian Games was stripped due to whereabouts failures, which relate to anti-doping availability requirements. Her 2026 gold is widely seen as a personal redemption following that setback.
What did President Droupadi Murmu say about Parveen Hooda?
President Murmu posted on X saying Parveen 'fought her way to the top with skill, courage and conviction' and that 'Daughters like you make India feel so proud.' She also said the gold medal would inspire countless youth, especially girls.
Did Lovlina Borgohain also win gold at the Asian Games 2026?
Yes, Lovlina Borgohain won the women's 75kg gold medal at the Asian Games 2026, defeating China's Bao Ziyi by a unanimous 5-0 decision at the Nishio Gymnasium. She became only the second Indian woman boxer after Mary Kom to win an Asiad gold, before Parveen joined that list the same day.
Which Indian women boxers have won gold at the Asian Games?
As of the Asian Games 2026, three Indian women boxers have won gold at the Asiad: the legendary Mary Kom, Lovlina Borgohain (75kg, 2026), and Parveen Hooda (65kg, 2026). Both Lovlina and Parveen claimed their gold medals at the same edition of the Games.
