Nikhat Zareen must win assessment test for place in CWG, Asiad squad: India coach Santiago Nieva

Indian women’s boxing is going through an interesting churn — the rise of fearless young contenders with concerns over dip in form of seasoned stars Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain. As the countdown to major events like the CWG and Asian Games gathers pace, head coach Santiago Nieva reflects on the team’s mixed performances at the Asian Championships while expressing optimism about the depth of talent and long-term goals, including 2028 Olympics. Excerpts from an interview...

How do you assess India’s overall performance at the recent Asian boxing meet?

India’s overall performance was arguably the best since the men’s and women’s events were combined in 2019. The team secured a tally of 16 medals, including a record number of gold, particularly in Olympic weight divisions. Beyond the numbers, what stands out is the quality of performances and the calibre of opponents our boxers overcame.




What were the positives and key areas of concern?

The consistency between what we observed in training and how our boxers delivered was a big positive. They replicated that level against strong opposition.

This shows that we are competing and winning at the absolute highest level. Another encouraging aspect was the composure displayed in close bouts, where our boxers managed to stay calm under pressure and still secure results. At the same time, there are areas we need to improve.

We always aim higher — not everyone won gold and not every boxer performed at their peak. With the Olympics ahead, every nation will raise their level, so it’s crucial that we progress faster and stay ahead of the competition.

Young talent Priya Ghanghas winning gold in an Olympic category (60kg) is a big boost...

On paper, Priya may not have been the favourite to win, but she proved otherwise with her performances in the ring. We were already aware of her potential from what she has shown in India, as well as during her exposure in Spain. The way she handled and defeated seasoned, high-quality opponents was particularly impressive.

How do you analyse the early exits of Nikhat and Lovlina?

I would say Nikhat largely delivered what would be expected from a neutral standpoint. We remain confident that she has the ability and qualities to turn the tables in a future encounter against Wu Yu (China’s reigning Olympic champion). Lovlina’s turned out to be a difficult bout against a strong opponent (Uzbekistan’s Aziza Zokirova), where a few technical mistakes came into play areas we will need to work on.

How would both boxers fit into your long-term plans?

Both Nikhat and Lovlina are clear priority athletes and strong medal contenders in any competition they enter. One key difference, however, lies in their current competitive landscape domestically. Nikhat is part of a very strong weight category in India, where she faces stiff internal competition and will need to consistently outperform other top boxers to secure her spot in major events.

Nikhat will have to come through a highly competitive assessment process, especially with selections for events like the CWG and Asian Games in mind. Lovlina has been outstanding in her weight category domestically. While that can always change, at this point it allows her to focus more on preparing for international competition.

With the CWG and Asian Games coming up, what are the more immediate priorities for the team?

At the moment, we have two groups within the team — those who have already secured their spots for the CWG, and those who will undergo another round of assessment scheduled for mid-May. Beyond that, the plan is to have at least one international preparatory competition ahead of the CWG.
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