Narender Berwal Captains India at World Boxing Cup in Brazil

Asian Games bronze medalist Narender Berwal will captain a 10-strong Indian men's boxing team at the first-ever World Boxing Cup in Brazilian city Foz do Iguacu. The tournament is significant as it marks the first to be organized by World Boxing following the latter's provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee. It also follows on the heels of the news that boxing will feature in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Although the event has both male and female boxers, India has only fielded male boxers as the women's National Championships concluded only a few days ago.

It will be an added challenge to Indian boxers as they will be competing with the new weight categories adopted by World Boxing. The squad comprises boxers who secured first and second places in their weight divisions at the National Championships in January. Prior to the tournament, they had been involved in a week-long training camp in Brazil. But Sumit, the National Champion of 85kg weight division, was unable to accompany the team due to physical conditioning problems.

Few of India's popular boxers such as Nishant Dev and Amit Panghal are not included in the team due to turning professional. Seasoned boxer Shiva Thapa and 2023 World Championship bronze medallist Deepak Bhoria are not included either, as they appeared in the Paris Olympic qualifiers. As a result, the World Boxing Cup will be India's first premier international tournament for its top boxers after the Paris Olympics.

Over 130 boxers from 19 nations are competing in the tournament. Australia, France, England, Germany, Kazakhstan, the USA, and Uzbekistan are some of the countries participating. With this kind of strong international roster, the competition will be fierce. The Indian team will have to play at its best to leave a mark on the international stage.

Lakshya Chahar is the first Indian boxer to feature in the tournament. He has a tough bout in the 80kg pre-quarterfinals against Wanderley Pereira of Brazil, a silver medalist at the 2023 World Championships in the middleweight division. It will be a big test for Chahar, and how he performs can provide the tone for the entire Indian team.

The Indian squad comprises Jadumani S Mandengbam (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Abhinash Jamwal (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Nikhil Dubey (75kg), Lakshya Chahar (80kg), Jugnoo (85kg), Vishal (90kg), and Narender Berwal (90kg). All these boxers will be hoping to impress with their performance and establish themselves at the global level.

This tournament is a significant milestone for Indian boxing. Fighting against the best fighters from across the globe will provide Indian boxers with much-needed experience. It will also provide them with an opportunity to find out where they are in relation to the best of the world. Good performances here can pave the way for greater opportunities in the future, including big championships and Olympic qualifying events.

For Narender Berwal, being the skipper of the Indian team is a large responsibility. A bronze medallist at the Asian Games, he has already demonstrated his talent. Now, he will seek to motivate his peers and set the tone in Brazil. His performance, and that of his teammates, will decide how well India performs at the World Boxing Cup.

The tournament will be an electrifying contest with fierce battles in the ring. Indian boxing enthusiasts will be keen to know how Indian fighters fare on this big stage. A good performance here will not only enhance the morale of the Indian team but also consolidate India's strength in international boxing.