Indian pugilists chase their elusive heavyweight dreams

Earlier this month, Indian boxers returned from the second leg of World Boxing Cup in Astana with a haul of 11 medals, including three gold.

- Shantanu Srivastava

While the majority of podiums were secured by the light and middleweight boxers, the heavyweights punched above their weight as well, winning a total of four medals—two each in men’s and women’s divisions.

The numbers may not jump out just yet, but it's a start nevertheless considering all of India’s three Olympic medals have come in lighter weights. It's worth noting that in the last three Olympics, only a solitary Indian—Satish Kumar (+91kg) — could qualify in the heavier weights. After the misbegotten campaign in Paris where the boxing contingent returned empty-handed, things are beginning to look up despite the organisational churn that the boxing federation is going through.

Nupur Sheoran’s gold in +80kg, Pooja Rani's silver in 80kg, Jugnoo Ahlawat’s silver in 85kg, and Narender Berwal's bronze in 90+kg in Astana were preceded by Gaurav Chauhan’s (+90kg) gold in Seychelles National Day Tournament last month and Vishal Bataan’s bronze (90kg) in the first World Boxing Cup in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil in March-April.