Boxing has been a promising sport for India in recent years. India is doing well at the Asian and Commonwealth Games in boxing. Perhaps, Indian Boxers have been performing well in the Olympics as well. Until now 9 Indian Boxers have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Due to Covid-19, the Tokyo Olympics world boxing qualification got cancelled. The qualification even was scheduled in June just before the Olympics 2020. With still 53 positions to grab, this is very disappointing for the Indian Boxers. International Olympic Committee cancelled the event due to the new rise of the coronavirus situation.

From 13 categories, 9 Indian boxers have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Let's get into the details of all 9 who have qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020.

Read Also: Indian Athletes Qualified for 2020 Olympics in Tokyo: In Detail

Indian Boxers who qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020

Vikas Krishan (Men's, 59 kg category)

Vikas, a two time Olympian qualified for the Tokyo Olympics with a commanding performance at the Asian Olympic Qualifiers. He was eliminated from the 2012 London Olympics in the preliminary round. However, he got close to the podium as he was eliminated from the quarter-finals at the Rio Olympics, 2016.

A stronger, more focused Vikas will be looking for a medal in Tokyo. In a recent interview with Olympic Channel, he has stated that "Be it in training, sparring or in tournaments, I have had the same mindset. My goal is to implement all of this so that no one can touch me at the Olympics. I won't settle for wins, I want to dominate and win."

Lovlina Borgohain (Women's, 69kg)

Lovlina Borgohain is a two-time World Championships bronze medalist. She is one of the most promising women boxers from India, who can get to the podium for India.

Lovlina qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by the virtue of her bronze a the 2020 Asia & Oceania Boxing Olympic qualifiers.

Read Also: 10 Inspiring Indian Sportswomen: International Women's Day Special

Simranjit Kaur (Women's, 60kg)

The current National Champion is another hope for Indian Boxing eternity. Simranjit Kaur, 23 years old female boxer from Punjab started as a light-weight boxer in her earlier days. However, it has her two medals at the Senior International Championship in Kazakhstan in 2017 made sure she becomes a constant at the national and international level. Simran was adjudged as the Indian Boxer of the year in 2019.

Simran also bagged in sliver in the recently concluded 35th Boxam International Boxing Tournament in Castellon, Spain. 

Manish Kaushik (Men's, 63kg)

Manish the army man qualified for the Tokyo Olympics 2020 via Asian boxing Olympic qualifiers in March earlier this year. However, the 24-year-old did not find it easy as he lost in the last round at the Asian qualifiers. Though his first-round points made sure he is heading t Tokyo.

Manish was the last Indian boxer to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. He is another Indian boxer who hails from the Bhiwani district in Haryana. Bhiwani is named the 'Mini Cuba' of Indian boxing.

Amit Panghal (Men's, 52kg)

The gold medalist from the Boxing World Cup 2020 is another podium hope for  Indian boxing. Amit is India's world number one in the flyweight category.

Panghal has already won a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 2018 commonwealth games.

Mary Kom (Women's, 51kg)

Mary Kom is the most illustrated Indian boxer ever. She has won everything except gold or silver at the Olympics. In a career spanning over 20 years, Kom has won World Championships a record-equaling six times. Along with that, she is also the first Indian woman to win gold at both Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Kom now is focused to win Gold for India at the Tokyo Olympics as she has already stated it will her last Olympics.

"I have already won everything—an Olympic gold is the only thing that's lacking in my life. I want to give my country this gift, an Olympic gold"

Kom via Olympic Channel

Read Also: Women In Sports: Female Athletes and Motherhood

Satish Kumar (Men's, 91kg)

Satish Kumar is the first heavyweight Indian boxer to qualify for the Olympic Games. He qualified for his debut Olympics via a sem-finals spot at the Asian Qualifiers in Jordan.

The veteran boxer will fight in the 91kg category. Satish is an Asian Games bronze medalist (2014) and Commonwealth Games silver medalist (2018).

Pooja Rani (Women's, 75kg)

Another boxer from Bhiwani, Haryana. Pooja fights in the middleweight category for India. Pooja was one of the first Indian boxers to qualify for the Tokyo Games.

After defeating Thailand's Pornnipa Chutee at the Asia Oceania boxing Olympic qualifiers she cemented her place at the Olympics 2020. Pooja is a bronze medalist from the 2014 Asian Games. Along with that she also has a Gold medal from the 2016 South Asian Games.

Ashish Kumar (Men's, 75kg)

Just like Pooja Rani, Ashish also qualified for the Olympics 2020 via his performance at the Asia Oceania boxing Olympic qualifiers. 

Ashish is a silver medalist from the 2019Asian Championships. The 24-year-old who hails from a family full of athletes aims to have his name at the podium in Tokyo.

The year 2025 is going to be exciting for Indian sports fans as it promises an action-packed calendar. This includes world events in hockey, squash, boxing, badminton, shooting and cricket, alongside the National Games and Khelo India competitions. The country is set to witness a wide range of sporting events this year. 

Also Read: Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna Award 2024: Full Winners List

After bidding goodbye to an eventful 2024, an exciting 2025 awaits sports fans as far as India are concerned. India will host several big competitions across sports this year, including the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Para World Athletics Championships.

Apart from hosting competitions, India will also take part in several multi-nation tournaments internationally, including the ICC Champions Trophy which will be held in a hybrid model with matches taking place in Pakistan and UAE.

Also Read: ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 schedule announced

Several Indian athletes and teams, including the likes of Neeraj Chopra and Manu Bhaker, will be in action this year. The India women’s cricket team will hope to end a long wait to possibly clinch the Women’s ODI World Cup.

Here’s the complete list of major sports events in India 2025.

Major sports events in India 2025

World Athletics has earlier announced that athletes should wear shoes with a uniform 20-millimeter sole thickness limit for all events. This rule will come into action on November 1st, 2024, marking a notable change in the actions of the athletes.

This rule has been induced to welcome fairness in the game. However, this has sparked controversies. While many athletes have accepted it, some are still in dilemmas about the rule.

Well, let's look at how the rule will impact the performance. However, for now, let's look at the present thickness.

Current Shoe Sole Thickness Rules in Athletics

Presently, there is no such uniformity of sole thickness. Thickness normally varies according to the events in which the athletes participate.

Suppose, in events where an athlete will have run more than 800 meters, shoes are allowed to have a sole up to 25 mm. However, when it comes to shorter distances, the maximum thickness has been limited to 20 mm.

For field events, including the high jump, athletes have a 20mm limit. But for the triple jump, athletes are allowed to wear shoes with soles up to 25mm.

These rules were implemented in January 2022, based on the technological advancements in shoes. However, from 1st November this year, there will be no distinction in sole thickness in different events.

Point to be noted: the rules for road events like marathons and race walks, which permit a 40mm sole thickness, will remain unchanged.

Why is World Athletics enforcing a 20mm sole limit?

The main motto of World Athletics is to ensure fairness. As a result of this, the federation has decided to apply the rule of a uniform 20mm limit to the sole.

In recent years, advances in shoe technology—particularly with thicker soles and carbon fiber plates—have sparked debates about whether these shoes offer athletes some unfair advantage.

Thus, World Athletics created its own Working Group on Athletic Shoes in 2020. The main task of this group is to analyze the impact of shoe technology on performance. They also draft regulations, ensuring that athletes are focusing more on skills and not technology.

The new rule was announced well in advance to give shoe manufacturers ample time to adapt their designs.

Athletes' Reactions to the 20mm Rule Change

Top athletes have had mixed reactions to the upcoming rule. Joshua Cheptegei, the Olympic and World Champion in the 10,000 meters, supports the change, describing it as "for the benefit of the sport."

He added that the thinner soles won’t necessarily lead to slower times, emphasizing that performance is often influenced by an athlete's mindset. Cheptegei also noted that recent shoe technology has aided recovery between training sessions, which could be impacted by the new regulations.

Meanwhile, Muktar Edris, a former two-time 5,000m World Champion, said that a thicker sole helps the athletes, providing them extra "energy" and "push." A reduced sole may hamper a regular action.

The Controversy Surrounding Shoe Technology

The controversy regarding shoe technology is nothing new. Before 2022, the track spikes had soles with thicknesses up to 30 mm.

During the Tokyo Olympics, legendary sprinter Usain Bolt brought this issue to the public, citing the unfair advantage an athlete may receive due to thicker boots. Not only that, but with the increased use of technologically advanced shoes, world records that looked unbreakable are at stake.

Karsten Warholm, the one who holds the World Record in 400m hurdles, also expressed his concern. After winning the gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics, he questioned the boots of the runner-up, Rai Benjamin.

Warholm made serious claims that Benjamin used thicker Nike soles that provided the later an unfair advantage. Warholm's remarks not only concerned the federation but drew attention to the fine line between technological innovation and "technological doping."

The Impact of Shoe Technology on Performance

Eliud Kipchoge, the first athlete who broke the two-hour marathon barrier in 2019, sparked controversies at his time as well. He used the Nike Alphafly, which featured thick soles and carbon plates. However, the nature of the event didn't let that record count. 

Later, World Athletics introduced a rule. It required the new shoes to be in the open market for at least four months prior to the competition. This rule also aspired to thwart athletes with exclusive shoe deals from gaining an unfair advantage.

Will the 20mm sole limit affect athlete performance?

It is not exactly negative, but the athletes will solely depend on their physical abilities and techniques. Yes, a few athletes do consider this to hurt their performance, but just like Cheptegei mentioned, mental resilience and training will play a crucial role in breaking records or achieving personal bests (PB).

Well, a reduced cushion in the sole will demand more energy from the athlete. Thus, athletes need to adjust their training regimes to adapt to the new rules.

World Athletics had mentioned clearly that they want to promote uniformity. They want the athletes to rely on their power and skills, not some technology beneath their feet, that will change and evolve with time. 

However, with shoe manufacturers rushing to adapt their designs, the real test will come when athletes compete under the new regulations in 2024.

Six-time world champion MC Mary Kom expressed disappointment over the poor performance of Indian boxers in the Paris Olympics 2024. She said that being a medal winner, it is natural that she feels bad.

Also Read: Cricket versus "Sports": A friend or a foe?

India had sent a team of six boxers to the Paris 2024, which included two men and four women. It also included Tokyo Olympics bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain and world champion Nikhat Zareen.

Mary Kom expressed her desire to re-enter professional boxing

Mary Kom expressed her desire to re-enter professional boxing, stating, "I am planning to make a comeback.I will try to make a comeback in pro-boxing." In the same event, she shared her happiness in participating in sports-promoting events but remained concerned about India's performance at the Olympics. 

'We will assess what needs to be done'

Mary Kom told IANS during the Army Sports Conclave, "Looking at the Olympics performance, its unfortunate that we didn’t win a medal in the 2024 Olympics. We will assess what needs to be done moving forward and what shouldn’t be done,"

India's boxing campaign was disappointing 

Lovlina (women's 75kg) missed out on a historic second medal at the Paris Olympics and lost to China's Li Qian in the quarterfinals. At the same time, in the men's 71 kg category, Nishant Dev had reached the quarter-finals, but he had to face defeat from Marco Verde of Mexico.

Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen (women's 50kg), Commonwealth Games champion Amit Panghal (men's 51kg) and Preeti Pawar (women's 54kg) lost in the round of 16 in their respective categories. Jasmine Lamboria (women's 57 kg) was eliminated in the round of 32. Overall, India's Paris Olympics boxing campaign was disappointing.

Also Read: Neeraj Chopra’s best throws: Here are all the top throws by javelin ace Neeraj Chopra

"As a world champion and medallist myself, its natural to feel disappointed. We'll focus on more practice and hard work for the upcoming tournaments," Mary Kom added.

Only three boxers achieved olympic medal

Notably, so far only three Indian boxers have won medals in the Olympics – Vijender Singh (bronze in Beijing 2008), Mary Kom (bronze in London 2012) and Lovlina Borgohain (bronze in Tokyo 2020).

After the Paris Olympics 2024, now Paris Paralympics is going to start from 28th August. The 84 contingent will compete for India at Paralympics 2024 which will run till September 8. This time Indian athletes are participating in 12 sports. This is India's largest contingent so far in the Paralympics. Bhagyashree Jadhav and Sumit Antil will be India's flag bearers.

So before the start of the games, let's take a look at the medals India won at the Paralympics so far.

Also Read: India's largest contingent to compete in Paris Paralympics 2024

India won 31 Paralympic medals so far

The Paralympic Games started in 1960. India sent an Indian contingent for the first time in 1968. The Paralympic Games started for India long after the Summer Olympics. Despite this, the country has so far won 31 medals in the Paralympics, including 9 gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze medals. India has participated in 11 editions so far.

India got 19 medals in Tokyo Paralympics

54 athletes had participated in the Tokyo Paralympics and won a maximum of 19 medals which included 5 gold, 8 silver, and 6 bronze medals. Out of a total of 162 nations, India had finished 24th in the overall medal tally at Tokyo, while its accomplishment of 19 medals is ranked 20th based on the number of medals.

Murlikant Petkar won the first medal

Murlikant Petkar, the hero of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, is India's first Paralympic medal winner. Murlikant Petkar won the gold medal in swimming in the Men's 50m Freestyle 3 event at the 1972 Heidelberg Games.

Petkar, a soldier of the Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) in the Indian Army, was a boxer. He became paralyzed after being shot during the India-Pakistan war of 1965. After this, he started swimming. In 2018, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.

Joginder Singh Bedi captured 3 medals

In the 1984 Paralympics, Bhimrao Kesarkar won the silver medal in men's javelin throw L6 with a throw of 34.55m. While Joginder Singh Bedi had won silver medal in Men's Shotput L6, a bronze medal in Men's Javelin Throw L6 event, and bronze medal in Men's Discus Throw L6 event.

India at Paralympics 2004

India has participated in every Paralympic Games since 1984, but the next medal came in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens. Devendra Jhajharia won the gold medal in the men's javelin throw F44/46 event. At the same time, Indian powerlifter Rajinder Singh Rahelu won the bronze medal in the men's 56 kg weight category by lifting 157.5 kg. 

In London 2012, High jumper Girisha N Gowda won the silver medal for India. 

Also Read: Largest refugee team set to compete at Paris Paralympics

India at Paralympics 2016

Tamil Nadu's Mariyappan Thangavelu won the gold medal in the men's high jump F42 event at the Rio 2016 Paralympics. He had jumped 1.89m. At the same time, Varun Singh Bhati won the bronze medal in the high jump competition. 

Avani Lekhara creates history

Avani Lekhara won the gold medal in her first Paralympics. She set a new Paralympic record of 249.6 in the women's 10m air rifle shooting standing SH1 final in Tokyo. With this, Avani became the first Indian woman to win a Paralympic gold medal.

India at Paralympics: India's Medals so far