India seal first CWG 2026 medal after boxer Lovlina Borgohain guarantees podium finish even before Opening Ceremony

Boxer Lovlina Borgohain secured India's first medal at the Commonwealth Games (CWG) 2026 even before the Opening Ceremony after the Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist was handed a first-round bye in the five-boxer draw in the women's 75kg category.

According to the rules at CWG, the semifinals of the boxing events are assured at least a bronze medal. Borgohain will next face Tuvalu’s T.K.B.P. Taafaki in the semifinals on July 31, with a possibility of reaching the final. In the other semifinal, Australian Emma-Sue Greentree will take on either British Mary Kate Smith or Nigeria's Patricia Mbata.

The Commonwealth Games medal was the only one accolade that was missing from Borgohain's cabinet. In the previous edition of CWG in Birmingham, the Assamese lost to Wales’ Rosie Eccles, in the quarterfinals of the light middleweight category.

Meanwhile, India's assured medal came just hours before the CWG 2026 Opening Ceremony at Glasgow's OVO Hydro Arena, which begins at 10:30 PM IST. During the event, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu and Borgohain will lead the Indian contingent. While Borgohain has been chosen as India's baton bearer, Mirabai is announced as a the flag bearer.

India's CWG 2026 medal chances in boxing

With the CWG 2026 trimmed to just 10 disciplines in the able-bodied programme, boxing is again expected to contribute a significant share in India's medal tally. The sport has yielded 44 Commonwealth Games medals for India so far and another strong showing will be crucial.

As many as eight Indian boxers have received first round byes. The likes of Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg) are just one win away from securing medals. Leading the charge will be former world champion Lovlina (75kg).

The seven-member women's team, in fact, looks capable of matching or even bettering its return of two golds and a bronze from Birmingham. Reigning 57kg world champion Jaismine will be among the biggest medal prospects despite returning from an illness that forced her to miss a recent training camp in the Czech Republic. The Haryana boxer, who won bronze in Birmingham, will be aiming to upgrade the colour of her medal.

All eyes will be on Army boxer Sakshi Chaudhary who has dropped down from 54kg to 51kg. She defeated world champions Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Hooda during the selection trials before underlining her credentials with gold at the Czech Grand Prix.

Asian Games bronze-medallist Preeti (54kg) and Arundhati (70kg), fresh from their Asian Championships triumph, further bolster India's medal prospects. The men's squad is in transition with plenty of newcomers.

Indian boxing team at CWG 2026

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borghain (75kg).

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal ( 90kg).