Indian Boxers' Camp Begins Ahead of World Championships, All Eyes on Nikhat and Lovlina

New Delhi. Preparations for Indian boxing have once again picked up pace. Keeping in mind the upcoming World Championships and Olympic qualification, a national boxing camp under the leadership of the Sports Authority of India (SAI) has begun. The camp is being held at the SAI Centre in Patiala, where selected boxers from across the country are working on sharpening their technique and fitness. This camp is significant because the national team selection for several major international tournaments will follow it. The camp is drawing the most attention around boxers who have brought glory to the country at the international level in recent years. Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain top that list. Both athletes have consistently performed well in recent seasons and are considered the backbone of the team. The coaching staff believes their fitness and form will shape the team's overall performance. The first phase of the camp includes fitness testing, medical screening and basic technical drills. After this, sparring sessions and tactical practice will begin. According to sources, special emphasis is being placed on sports science this time, with separate work on nutrition, recovery, mental toughness and injury management. The coaching staff of the Indian boxing team said that competition at the international level is tougher than ever, so technique alone will not be enough. Athletes must also be mentally prepared. Nikhat Zareen is among the boxers who have proven their consistency in recent years. According to her coach, she is fully fit at the camp and working on her speed. Nikhat's focus this time is on further strengthening her defence so she can maintain better control against fast opponents. In recent sessions she has especially worked on her footwork and short-range punches, which could make her ring presence even more effective. Team management is also excited about Lovlina Borgohain. Her height and reach make her different from other boxers, but the coaching staff believes she needs more flexibility in her strategy. At the camp, Lovlina is working especially on counter-attacks and close-range bouts. Her goal is to perform consistently well in major tournaments and win medals for the team. Young boxers who performed well in recent domestic tournaments have also been included in the camp. Several names are part of a senior-level camp for the first time. The selection committee believes that practising with senior athletes will give the youth experience and increase the team's depth in the coming years. In addition, special attention is being given to weight category management at the camp, since many boxers compete across different weight classes. Injury management is a sensitive issue in boxing. A team of physiotherapists and sports science experts is present at the camp, keeping an eye on athletes' recovery. The staff said care is being taken to ensure no athlete is overloaded and that training levels are gradually increased. Athletes are also being given the opportunity to understand their own bouts and those of opponents through video analysis. The national camp's schedule has been designed so athletes get enough preparation time for upcoming competitions. The coaching staff says the main aim of the camp is to build athletes' confidence and prepare them for international-level challenges. This time, emphasis is being placed on creating a competitive environment in practice sessions so athletes can perform better under pressure. Indian boxing has faced ups and downs at the international level in recent years, but recent performances have raised hopes. The presence of athletes like Nikhat and Lovlina has strengthened the team. Experts believe that if preparations at the camp move in the right direction, India's medal chances in upcoming tournaments will improve. However, the challenge is not easy, as teams from other countries are also constantly improving. A senior athlete participating in the camp, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the atmosphere is very positive and all athletes are trying to learn from one another. He said that along with technical improvement, team spirit is also being strengthened at the camp. In the coming days, several inter-camp practice bouts will also be held to assess athletes' actual form. The selection committee will finalise the outline of the final team based on these performances. Overall, the Indian boxing camp is currently focused on the triangle of discipline, technique and fitness. The combined effect of the experience of senior athletes like Nikhat and Lovlina and the enthusiasm of young boxers could be seen in the team's performance. The coming months could prove decisive for Indian boxing, and the country's hopes will rest on the team that emerges from this camp.