Indian boxing squad for 19th Asian Games; spearheads Shiva, Lovlina and Nikhat among big names

The Indian boxing squad for 19th Asian Games, which will be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8, 2023, will be led by record-breaking six-time Asian Championship medalist Shiva Thapa, bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain from the Tokyo Olympics, and two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen.

With a World Championships bronze medal and six Asian Championships medals under his belt, Shiva will be looking to add a first Asian Games medal to his kitty as he represents the country in the 63.5 kg category.

Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina will battle it out in the 75kg category, determined to add a coveted Asian Games medal to her decorated CV that has three World Championships and Asian medals each.

Nikhat, who recently made history by becoming just the second female wrestler from her nation to win two gold medals at the World Championships, will strive to maintain her supremacy on the global stage. The boxer from Telangana will compete in the 50kg division and won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.