Boxing: Preeti Pawar, Arundhati Chaudhary Elevated to TOPS Core Group After Golden Run at Asian Championships

India's boxing contingent received a major boost ahead of a crucial international cycle as Preeti Pawar and Arundhati Chaudhary were elevated to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core Group following their gold medal-winning performances at the 2026 Asian Boxing Elite Championships.

The decision was taken during the 172nd Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting, where four boxers - Preeti, Priya, Arundhati and Sachin - were promoted to the Core group after a strong showing in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia earlier this month. While Preeti (54kg), Priya (60kg) and Arundhati (70kg) clinched gold medals, Sachin (60kg) secured a silver, prompting the MOC to reward their consistent performances and upward trajectory.

The TOPS Core Group includes India's top medal prospects and provides elite athletes with financial assistance, international exposure, coaching support and sports science backing as they prepare for major global events. The inclusion of these boxers reflects India's growing strength in boxing, particularly in the women's categories.

Preeti Pawar, one of India's brightest prospects, is set to feature in both the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow and the Asian Games 2026 in Japan, marking a crucial year in her career. She will be joined by fellow Core group athletes Jaismine, Priya, Arundhati and Sachin, all of whom have qualified directly for these marquee events as per the Boxing Federation of India's selection policy.

Boxing is expected to be one of India's key medal sports at the Commonwealth Games, especially with several traditionally strong disciplines not part of the programme. This places additional emphasis on boxers to deliver podium finishes and strengthen India's medal tally.

The MOC also expanded the Development Group, inducting three promising boxers - Aditya (65kg), Deepak (70kg) and Harsh (90kg) - based on their performances at the Asian Championships. The Development Group acts as a pipeline to the Core Group, ensuring that emerging talent receives structured support and monitoring as they progress.

Additionally, Narender (+90kg) has been included in the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG), where he will receive focused support leading up to the Asian Games 2026. Harsh and Narender had secured bronze medals at the Asian meet, while Aditya and Deepak reached the quarterfinal stage.

India enjoyed a highly successful campaign at the Asian Boxing Championships, finishing with a total of 16 medals - five gold, three silver and eight bronze - underlining the depth and promise within the squad.

With these latest inclusions, the TOPS Core group now features seven boxers, while the Development group has expanded to 25 athletes. As preparations intensify for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, these strategic selections signal a focused push to convert potential into podium finishes on the global stage.