Glasgow: Guaranteed the solitary major medal missing from her extensive collection without even stepping into the ring, two-time Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain is setting her sights on Commonwealth Games gold as a fresh wave of Indian boxers prepares to make their mark on the international stage starting Friday.

With the able-bodied programme at the Games reduced to just 10 disciplines, boxing is anticipated to provide a substantial portion of India's medal haul. Historically, the sport has secured 44 Commonwealth medals for the nation, making another formidable performance essential.

Eight Indian competitors have been awarded first-round byes. Boxers including Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), and Preeti Pawar (54kg) require just one victory to guarantee themselves a place on the podium.

Spearheading the campaign is former world champion Borgohain in the 75kg category. The 28-year-old was granted a direct route to the semi-finals, as her weight division features only five entrants.

The seven-strong women's squad appears well-positioned to equal or surpass the two golds and one bronze claimed in Birmingham four years ago.

Reigning 57kg world champion Lamboria stands out as a prime medal contender, despite recently recovering from an illness that sidelined her during a training camp in the Czech Republic. The Haryana native, who took home bronze in Birmingham, is determined to upgrade the colour of her medal.

Considerable attention will also be fixed on Army boxer Sakshi Chaudhary, who has moved down from 54kg to 51kg. Chaudhary enters the tournament with strong credentials, having bested world champions Nikhat Zareen and Minakshi Hooda during selection trials before securing gold at the Czech Grand Prix.

The team's medal chances are further strengthened by Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti (54kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), both arriving on the back of triumphs at the Asian Championships.

Head coach Santiago Nieva expressed optimism regarding the women's team surpassing their performance from four years ago.

"It will be tough for everyone to win gold. But I'd say we are capable of doing as good as we did last time or even better," Nieva told PTI.

Conversely, the men's contingent is undergoing a transitional phase, brimming with new faces. Six of the seven selected athletes are making their Commonwealth Games debut. Only seasoned Asian Games bronze medallist Narender Berwal (+90kg) and Sumit Kundu (70kg) possess substantial senior international experience.

Among the debuting men, Manipuri boxer Jadumani Singh is expected to draw significant interest. Transitioning from the 50kg division to the Olympic 55kg category, Singh has eliminated the exhausting process of severe weight cutting, enabling him to concentrate entirely on his ring performance.

Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg) and Kapil Pokhariya (90kg) are also considered highly promising prospects, whilst multiple World Cup medallist Sachin Siwach (60kg) emerges as the most robust medal hope in the men's draw.

Although the youthful men's squad may be short on experience, they possess sufficient talent to potentially spring several surprises. India recorded its most successful Commonwealth Games boxing campaign at Gold Coast 2018, securing seven medals, including three golds. During those Games, MC Mary Kom became the first Indian woman to claim a Commonwealth boxing title, and every male Indian boxer returned home with a medal.

The Indian Squad:

Women: Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya Ghanghas (60kg), Parveen Hooda (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg).

Men: Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Singh (65kg), Sumit Kundu (70kg), Ankush (80kg), Kapil Pokhariya (90kg), Narender Berwal (+90kg).

PTI