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Indian Boxers Preeti, Arundhati Promoted to TOPS Core After Asian Gold

Four Indian boxers have been elevated to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme (TOPS) Core group following their medal-winning performances at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships. The promoted athletes include gold medallists Preeti Pawar, Priya, and Arundhati Chaudhary, along with silver medallist Sachin. Three additional boxers were inducted into the TOPS Development group to receive structured support. These moves come as India intensifies preparations for major upcoming events like the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.

Key Points: Indian Boxers Elevated to TOPS Core After Asian Championships

  • Four boxers promoted to TOPS Core
  • Three boxers added to Development group
  • India won 16 medals at Asian Championships
  • Core group now has 7 boxers
  • Focus on CWG and Asian Games 2026
2 min read

Preeti Pawar, Arundhati Chaudhary elevated to TOPS Core Group following golden show at Asian Boxing Championships

Preeti Pawar, Arundhati Chaudhary among four boxers promoted to TOPS Core group following gold medals at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships.

"The decision was taken during the 172nd Mission Olympic Cell meeting - Press Release"

New Delhi, April 22

Four Indian boxers, Preeti Pawar, Priya, Arundhati Chaudhary and Sachin, have been promoted to the Target Olympic Podium Scheme Core group following their impressive performances at the 2026 Asian Boxing Elite Championships, while three others have been inducted into the Development group.

The decision was taken during the 172nd Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting on Wednesday, according to a press release.

Preeti (54kg), Priya (60kg) and Arundhati (70kg) were crowned gold medallists at the continental meet in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, earlier this month, while Sachin (60kg) secured a silver. The Mission Olympic Cell, which reviews athlete performances under the TOPS framework, based its decision on a detailed assessment of recent results, world rankings and performance progression.

Preeti is set to compete in both the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Asian Games in Japan, scheduled later this year. Alongside Preeti will be Jaismine (57kg), Priya (W60 kg), Arundhati (W70 kg), and Sachin (M60 kg). Preeti, Priya and Sachin are also competing at the Asian Games. These boxers made it to CWG 2026 and Asian Games 2026 based on direct qualification, according to the selection policy of the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

Boxing is also one of the main medal contention sports for India at CWG 2026, with the event not featuring a plethora of sports where India could have bagged more medals, for instance, in shooting, badminton, wrestling, field hockey, and more.

The MOC, additionally, today included three boxers, Aditya (65kg), Deepak (70kg), and Harsh (90kg), in the TOPS Development group following their performances at the Asian Championships. Narender (+90kg) has been included in the Target Asian Games Group (TAGG) group, where the 31-year-old will receive support until the Asian Games 2026. Harsh and Narender secured bronze medals, while Aditya and Deepak reached the quarterfinals at the Ulaanbaatar meet earlier this month.

India bagged an impressive haul of 16 medals, including five gold, three silver, and eight bronze, at the 2026 Asian Boxing Championships in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

The TOPS Development group serves as a feeder system to the Core category, offering promising athletes structured support, exposure and monitoring as they progress towards elite performance levels.

With these inclusions, the TOPS Core group currently features 7 boxers, the Development group features 25 boxers, and the TAGG scheme features one boxer, as preparations intensify for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games cycle.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Great to see such decisive action from the MOC. Promoting them right after the championships shows they are serious about capitalizing on momentum. The Development group additions are also smart planning for the future.
V
Vikram M
A total of 16 medals at the Asian Championships is no small feat! 🇮🇳 Our boxers are punching well above their weight. I just hope the federation ensures they get consistent international exposure and top-notch coaching now that they're in TOPS.
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Priya S
As someone with the same name, I'm so proud of Priya (60kg)! 😄 Jokes aside, this is a well-deserved promotion for all four. The article mentions boxing is a main medal hope for CWG 2026. Let's back our athletes fully.
R
Rohit P
Good step, but the real test is the Olympics. TOPS Core group has only 7 boxers? We need to build more depth. Also, hope the support includes mental conditioning and sports science, not just funding. Sometimes our planning stops at the announcement.
M
Michael C
Impressive haul from Mongolia. The structured approach with Core, Development, and TAGG groups seems logical. Fingers crossed for these athletes in Glasgow and Japan later this year.

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