Indian boxer Preeti Pawar, fresh off a gold medal at the Asian Boxing Championships, has revealed that quilling and calligraphy are her go-to stress relievers during the pressure of elite international competition. Speaking ahead of her preparations for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, Preeti opened up about her creative rituals, the physical grind of weight management, and her tactical mindset heading into what she considers the toughest test in Asian boxing.

Art as a Mental Reset

For Preeti, detailed paper art is far more than a pastime — it functions as a deliberate mental break from the relentless demands of competitive boxing. 'I like doing quilling and calligraphy. It diverts my mind from sports for a while. I think it is important to divert yourself for a while. I personally feel that if we think too much, overthinking is not good. Quilling helps me to maintain pressure and feel relaxed,' she said.

The habit took root during an overseas training camp. 'Before going to the Commonwealth Games, we had a training camp in Belfast. Whenever I was free, I did quilling. I made a poster for Shri Bhaiyya with quilling. He liked it a lot. I have made a lot of posters for my teammates as well,' she recalled.

Inspired by Tejaswin Shankar's Comeback

Preeti's artistic gestures have extended beyond her immediate boxing circle. High jumper Tejaswin Shankar, who recently completed a remarkable podium return following a significant injury, became the subject of one of her most meaningful pieces. 'He made a strong comeback. I wanted to make something for him. He was very happy when I gave it to him. He shared a lot of things with me — how he made his comeback and his mindset. I was very inspired by his story,' she said. The exchange reflects a broader culture of cross-sport solidarity within the Indian athletics contingent.

Managing Weight Cuts on Match Day

Beyond the creative side, Preeti was candid about the physical rigour that defines her match-day routine — particularly the challenge of shedding approximately 1.5 kg in the hours before stepping into the ring. 'Weight cutting is definitely a challenge, though I have been doing this for a long time. The most important thing is what we eat before the bout. At the last moment, after cutting weight, we don't eat anything until weigh-in. Rehydrating properly right after is crucial so that performance isn't affected,' she explained.

With as little as three hours between early-morning weigh-ins and scheduled bouts, her recovery window is razor-thin. 'I make a bout plan the day before. On match day, after cutting weight by 6:30 AM and completing weigh-in, I rehydrate around 7:00 AM and take proper nutrition. If time permits, I take a quick nap before heading to the arena. I also like to visualise the bout beforehand — it really helps me mentally,' she noted.

Asian Games: The Road Ahead

Riding the confidence of her Asian Championship gold — won in March — Preeti is under no illusions about the scale of competition at the Asian Games. 'I think it's tough; there are a lot of good countries in Asia that are doing well in boxing. But I think the Asian Championship was held last March, and I won a gold medal there. It was a great experience for me and for the Asian Games as well,' she said.

She added that many of the same opponents from the Championship circuit are likely to feature in Japan. 'Mostly the same countries will participate in the Asian Games, and I think I will meet the same opponents there. Next, I will discuss with the coaches what areas I want to work on and what will be our game plan for the Asian Games. We will discuss that in the training camp,' she said. With targeted coaching sessions and a refined tactical blueprint in the works, Preeti enters the Asian Games cycle as one of India's most credible medal prospects in boxing.