Nikhat, Lovlina head new-look squad

A year after Indian boxers returned empty-handed from the Paris Olympics, a largely new-look squad will look to impress in its first major outing at the World Championships that begins in Liverpool on Thursday.

- Shantanu Srivastava

Held under the aegis of World Boxing, the event features all seven Olympic divisions in men and women — 10 weight categories each — as over 500 boxers from more than 65 nations, including 17 Paris Olympic medallists, will be in action. It is the first instance of men’s and women’s competitions being held in the same world championships.

For India, the spotlight will be on the seasoned Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain, who both enter the event as reigning world champions. Nikhat competes in the 5Ikg category, having won her world titles in 52kg (2022) and 50kg (2023). Lovlina, a three-time Worlds medallist and bronze medallist at the Tokyo Olympics, will defend her 75kg crown.