Asian Games 2026 Indian boxing medallists set to receive direct entry for 2027 World Championships

The boxing medallist at Asian Games will get direct qualification for the World Championships. (Photo credit: PTI)

New Delhi: Indian boxers who finish on the podium at the 2026 Asian Games will secure a direct qualification for next year’s World Boxing Championships, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) said on Wednesday. The event will also serve as the first qualification event for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has released an expansive selection framework focused on having the maximum number of Indian boxers qualify for the 2028 Olympics. The system consists of a four-stage process and has been designed in line with the qualification pathway developed by World Boxing and approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the BFI said in a media release.

As per the World Boxing criteria, the qualification process for the 2028 Olympics will start from the 2027 World Boxing Championships, followed by the Asian Qualifier in China and two World Qualifying Tournaments in 2028.

“Asian Games 2026 medallists will be selected as the main entry in their respective weight categories. The gold medallists of the 10th Elite National Championships shall serve as the reserve entry in that weight category,” BFI said in a statement.

Under the new policy, the gold medallist from the 10th Elite National Championships will be chosen as India’s primary representative in weight divisions where the country did not secure an Asian Games medal. The same rule will apply to Olympic weight categories that are not contested at the Asian Games.

The policy also offers another route for the boxers who reach the quota bout stage at the World Championships but do not secure an Olympic quota. They will be given direct entry into the Asian Qualifiers. The remaining places will be filled through ranking-based selection trials, which involve members of the national camp. The same selection process will be followed for the two World Qualifying Tournaments in 2028, scheduled to be held in Italy and Hungary.

“This policy has been framed to give our boxers a clear and structured route to Los Angeles 2028, built around consistent performance at the National Coaching Camp and at World Boxing’s qualification events,” said BFI President Ajay Singh.

The national coaching camp will begin with the medal winners from the 10th Elite National Championships, Asian Games medallists and any wild cards to be selected by the BFI selection committee, as per the provisions mentioned in the policy.

For weight categories that are not part of the Olympic programme, the gold medallist of the National Championships will serve as the main entry to the 2027 World Championships, while the silver medallist will be kept as the reserve option.

Prince is currently with the sports team of News9 Digital. He is an avid football and cricket fan, and an adventurous traveler on a mission to experience the best of both sports and the world.