Indian boxers returned from Paris with zero medals despite boasting of some proven performers in Tokyo Games bronze winner Lovlina Borgohain, two-time world championships gold medallist Nikhat Zareen and Asian and CWG champion Amit Panghal. Only Nishant Dev showed promise and fought his heart out in a close bout in the men's 71kg quarterfinal.
The pugilists' disappointing show has much to do with the Boxing Federation of India's (BFI) poor planning, overdependence on foreign experts, lack of trust in Indian coaches and introduction of a much-debatable evaluation test system at its national camps.
