Ovlina Borgohain, Nikhat Zareen To Spearhead India's Challenge In Women's World Boxing Championship

Lovlina Borgohain, who won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and Nikhat Zareen, the current world champion, will lead India's effort in the 2023 IBA Women's World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. The competition will take place at the Indira Gandhi Sports Complex from March 15 to March 26. Two-time world championship bronze medalist Borgohain (75 kg), who won bronze in Tokyo, will compete among other Olympic medal winners from various nations for the ultimate prize. In contrast, Zareen will defend her championship in the 50 kg division. At the Istanbul-based 2022 IBA Women's World Championships, she won the title of world champion. In the 48 kg weight division, Nitu Ghanghas, a gold medalist from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, will also compete. The two-time Young World Champion will attempt to add one more significant medal to her collection. "It's a line-up of champions, and I am confident that they'll bring glory to the country again," said Ajay Singh, president of the Boxing Federation of India. "In the last few years, India has become a powerhouse of boxing, and we intend to further cement our standing with this talented contingent for the IBA Women's World Championships (BFI). Manisha Moun will represent the nation in the fiercely contested 57 kg featherweight division. Manisha Moun made her presence known on the international scene with excellent results at the 2018 World Championships in Delhi.

The 2022 World Championships saw Manisha take home the bronze medal. Jaismine Lamboria, who won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, has qualified for that event and will fight in the 60 kg division. Preeti and Sanamacha Chanu, two young boxers, will compete for India in the 54 kg and 70 kg weight classes, respectively. Preeti took home the bronze in the 2022 Asian Championships, while Sanamcha just received the title of national champion in her division. Sanamcha is the 2021 Youth World Champion. The 81 kg division will feature Saweety Boora, the current Asian and national champion. The seasoned competitor, who took home silver at the World Championships held in South Korea in 2014, will be aiming to maintain her strong form and increase her medal total. Sakshi Chaudhary (52 kg), Shashi Chopra (63 kg), and Manju Bamboria (66 kg), the gold winners from the 2019 South Asian Games, would be ready to show their mettle in their respective weight classes at the World Championships. India's medal chances in the heavyweight division for athletes weighing 81 kg and above would depend on Nupur Sheoran, the current national champion. The prize money for the competition will total Rs 20 crore, of which Rs 10 crore would go to gold medalists. Bronze medalists and boxers who place second or third in their divisions will also get awards from prize pools totaling Rs 5 crore.

India squad: Nitu Ghanghas (48 kg), Nikhat Zareen (50 kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (52 kg), Preeti (54 kg), Manisha Moun (57 kg), Jaismine Lamboria (60 kg), Shashi Chopra (63 kg), Manju Bamboria (66 kg), Sanamcha Chanu (70 kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg), Saweety Boora (81 kg), and Nupur Sheoran (81 +).