Two-time gold medallist Nikhat Zareen has put behind the disappointment of missing out on a third World Championships medal, and is now focussed on collecting maximum ranking points by winning the top prize in the upcoming World Boxing Cup Finals.
Shiva Thapa will next face Nader Odah of Kuwait in the quarter-finals on Tuesday.
The change at the helm comes in the wake of an underwhelming couple of years for Indian men's boxing.
Lots to look forward to in Indian sports as packed 2026 calender awaits
Seasoned boxer Pooja Rani had decided that if her fourth appearance at the World Boxing Championship ended without a medal, she would not give it another shot.
Indian boxers continued to pack a mighty punch at the World Championships, as Manoj Kumar (64kg) and Manpreet Singh (91kg) entered the pre-quarter-finals with contrasting victories in their respective second round bouts, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on Friday.
Coaching crisis, heartbreaks and Olympic setbacks mark a disastrous year for Indian boxing
Fourth seed Shiva Thapa (60kg) stunned Olympic bronze-medallist and top seed Dorjnyambuug Otgondalai of Mongolia to enter the Asian Boxing Championships final, in Tashkent, on Friday.
The last year proved to be a period of reflection for Nikhat Zareen, one that taught her to temper expectations while also strengthening her resolve to fulfil her dream of becoming an Olympic champion.
National champion Abhimanyu from Haryana also moved into the last four after defeating Kyrgyzstan's Tenibekov Sanjar in a one-sided affair.
Hockey star Hardik Singh lone recommendation for Khel Ratna; Divya, TJ & Mehuli for Arjuna
With 48kg not part of the Olympic programme, the choices were limited.
Amit Panghal, India's lone male boxer to win a world championship silver medal, has turned professional.
In its latest order, the Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the Sports Ministry observer and the Returning Officer to issue a fresh election schedule before April 28, when the case is set to be heard again.
Tamanna (50kg) and Nivedita Karki (48kg), silver medalists in the previous edition, were among five Indian women boxers who won gold in the youth competition of the Asian Youth and Junior Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan on Monday.
Commonwealth Games medallist Jaismine Lamboria and two-time Asian Champion Pooja Rani secured gold medals at the Elite Women's National Boxing Championships
'There's no pressure of the Olympics but at the same time, I am not being complacent about it.'
It was gold rush for India at the Asian Junior Boxing Championships in Dubai on Sunday with four pugilists from the country winning gold medals.
The Indian women's boxing team won one gold, three silver and six bronze medals at the Asian Championship in Dubai, ensuring that all 10 weight categories featured an Indian medallist.
To prevent India Open-like mess, Sports Ministry asks SAI to draw up SOP
Olympic medallist Vijender Singh has called for greater international exposure for Indian boxers to boost their 2028 Los Angles Games medal hopes while also urging fresh and fair elections in the BFI to strengthen its governance. He believes that more international competition and a strong federation are crucial for Indian boxers to succeed at the upcoming Olympics.
Seven Indians took the ring in the quarter-finals on Monday evening and four of them emerged victorious.
Hitesh beats former world champion Okazawa, Indian boxers continue to dominate at World Cup Finals
Indian women boxers, led by star pugilist Nikhat Zareen, lived up to their top billings to claim seven gold medals, while Hitesh Gulia and Sachin Siwach also clinched the coveted yellow metal at the World Boxing Cup Finals in Greater Noida on Thursday.
Naveen and Hussamuddin storm into pre-quarters at IBA World Boxing championships
They weren't up for a windfall even after the trophy but life was certain to get a lot better as some sponsors and state governments stepped up to lift them financially.
Marykom won the 46kg gold even as North Korea emerged champions.
Star boxers Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain endured contrasting outings on their international return
Nikhat, Jaismine and four other Indian boxers march into finals
He joins ahead of a demanding 2026 season packed with major events, including the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. One of the first things on his agenda will be "tackling" the selection policy.
It was a mere formality for the general assembly of 74 members to put a seal of approval on India's bid after Ahmedabad was recommended as the proposed host of the centenary edition by the Commonwealth Sport's Executive Board last month. India last hosted the CWG in 2010 in Delhi.
Eyeing a third straight Olympic appearance in 2028 (if the sport is included in the roster) Tokyo Games bronze medallist Lovlina said she will take it one step at a time from here on.
Indian teenager Prayag Chauhan beat local boy Azat Ilyubayev in the lightweight category (60kg) final at the ASBC Asian Confederation Junior Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan.
'I would have quit if I'd have won Paris Olympic medal'
Commonwealth Games gold-medallist Manoj Kumar (64kg) gave India a perfect start at the Asian Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan by thrashing local favourite Ibrahim Saleh in the opening round.
In the final, Krrish and Ravi will take on Tajikistan's Anushervon Fazylov and Ilkhomjon Ergashev of Uzbekistan respectively.
Lakra, who has earned a berth for Beijing Olympics, lost 6-17 to Asian bronze medallist Yang Li in the feather weight category at the University of Chicago's UIC Pavillion on Friday.
Indian football remained in a state of terminal decline after experiencing arguably its darkest phase in a year marked by severe administrative crisis, court hearings, financial issues, absence of domestic leagues, and a steep decline in performance of the senior men's team.
Former World Championships silver medallist N Usha suffered a shock quarter-final defeat even as India were assured of eight medals in the Asian Women's Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. Usha, who was expected to have it easy against Chorieva of Tajikistan, a country participating for the first time in the event, was knocked out in the lightweight 60kg category.
Disheartened but not broken after the Olympic loss, Jaismine returned to the Army Sports Institute (ASI) in Pune after a short break. She had made up her mind to stay in the 57kg division, a category that complemented her rangy frame and natural speed.
