New Delhi, Nov 28 (NationPress) The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has confirmed the appointment of Santiago Nieva as the new head coach for the women’s national boxing team.

This Swedish coach previously held the position of India’s High Performance Director from 2017 to 2021. He returns to the organization with a clear goal: to enhance the team’s performance as the nation embarks on an essential new Olympic cycle.

Nieva's earlier contributions to India's high-performance framework were significant.

During his past tenure, Indian boxing achieved remarkable success, including two podium finishes at the 2019 Men’s World Championships—with Amit Panghal winning a historic silver and Manish Kaushik claiming bronze—leading to the largest-ever Olympic boxing team from India at Tokyo 2020, where Lovlina Borgohain secured a bronze medal.

As preparations intensify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and with a competitive landscape across seven women’s divisions, Nieva is tasked with establishing the Indian women’s team as consistent global medal contenders in every weight category.

Recently, the national women’s team has achieved a series of historic results, notably sweeping every medal at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 held in Greater Noida, where the team earned seven golds, one silver, and two bronze medals, with many podium finishes in key Olympic weight classes.

Nieva’s hiring is a strategic advancement for India’s long-term Olympic strategy, underscoring the federation’s dedication to high-performance systems, scientific training methodologies, and elite coaching standards.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Nieva stated, “I am incredibly excited to return to India. My previous five years here were exceptional, and I eagerly anticipate this new chapter. Together, I believe we can achieve great things. I have enjoyed significant success with women boxers in the past. The potential within the Indian women's team is immense, and we aim to make a significant impact at the LA Olympics in 2028 and create history.”

Nieva brings over 20 years of international coaching experience, having held pivotal roles in high-performance boxing globally.

After his previous role in India, he most recently acted as the National Head Coach and Technical Lead for Boxing Australia's High Performance Unit. Before that, he played a crucial role in developing Sweden’s national program as head coach and sports director, mentoring athletes through World Championships, continental competitions, Olympic qualifiers, and multi-sport events.

Upon Nieva’s appointment, BFI president Ajay Singh remarked, “Santiago’s hiring is a significant progression for our women’s program. His exceptional technical skills and international perspective will greatly enhance our system.

“Our athletes have proven they can compete on the world’s toughest platforms, and with Santiago guiding their development, we are optimistic about bolstering India’s presence and aspirations on the global stage.”

Singh also acknowledged the vital contributions of D Chandralal, the former head coach of the Elite Women’s Team, noting that he will continue to play an integral role in the Indian coaching staff.