Commonwealth Games | BFI president Ajay Singh says ‘exceptional’ Indian boxers ‘exceeded expectations’

Terming India’s record haul of 10 boxing medals, comprising seven gold and three silver, at the Commonwealth Games as “exceptional”, Boxing Federation of India (BFI) president Ajay Singh said he was pleasantly surprised by the team’s performance, admitting that he had expected only “six or seven boxers to reach the finals” rather than all 10.

“We are proud of our contribution to India’s medal tally,” Ajay said during a virtual media interaction on Sunday (August 2, 2026).

Of India’s 10 boxing medals, seven were won by women. Ajay attributed the outstanding performance to their hunger for success and unwavering determination to excel.

“The women have shown tremendous commitment and the desire to keep improving. The BFI will continue to provide them with every possible facility and support to help them perform even better,” he said.

However, Ajay cautioned against expecting a similar medal haul at the forthcoming Asian Games, describing it as a far tougher competition.

“The top three teams in Asia are Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and China, and they are extremely strong. The Asian Games will be much more competitive,” he said.

India’s men’s head coach C.A. Kuttappa and women’s head coach Santiago Nieva also praised the team’s performance while acknowledging the challenge that lies ahead.

Exceeding the number of gold medals from the previous Commonwealth Games was a remarkable feat, Nieva opined.

The competition at the Games was tough and we exceeded our expectations. Compared to the 2022 Birmingham Games, where India won only three gold medals, this is a remarkable improvement. We beat several quality opponents, including boxers from England, and have also performed well at the recent Asian Championships. Every major Games is important. Success is not just the Olympics. There is never a guarantee of a medal at any major event, but we are definitely on the right track,” he added.