Akhil Kumar Calls For Greater Focus On Women Boxers Ahead Of 2028 Olympics
Focus shifts to women's boxing before LA 2028.
Former Commonwealth Games champion Akhil Kumar has urged the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) to place greater emphasis on women's boxing in its preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying India's female pugilists currently offer the country's strongest prospects for winning Olympic medals. The former boxer, who now serves as an Assistant Commissioner of Police in Haryana Police, made the remarks after India's record-breaking performance at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Speaking to PTI, Akhil said India's women boxers have consistently delivered better results than their male counterparts and should therefore receive priority in long-term planning. India secured its best-ever boxing campaign at the Commonwealth Games with seven gold medals, six of which were won by women. The Indian women's team also claimed medals in all seven weight categories, finishing with six golds and one silver, while the men's team won two gold medals and one silver.
Akhil noted that women's boxing has expanded significantly in recent years, with the number of Olympic and Commonwealth Games weight categories increasing. He said India has adapted well to this growth and is well placed to target more than one Olympic medal in women's boxing at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. While expressing confidence in the women's team, he said he currently does not see any male boxer who appears ready to become an Olympic medallist unless there is substantial improvement over the coming years.
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The former Asian champion also praised the performances of Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), describing them as technically sound and fearless competitors. Among the men, he identified silver medallist Jadumani Singh (55kg) as a promising talent, citing his speed, power and ring awareness. However, Akhil cautioned that tougher challenges await Indian boxers at major events such as the Asian Games, where countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan and South Korea remain strong contenders.
Beyond performances in the ring, Akhil said Indian boxing needs inspiring personalities who can connect with young athletes and popularise the sport. He pointed to figures such as Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra and shooter Manu Bhaker as examples of athletes whose achievements and conduct have inspired the next generation. He also backed the use of selection trials over a seeding-based system for choosing national teams, arguing that boxers should earn selection through direct competition in the ring rather than subjective criteria such as training performance or punctuality.
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