Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Camp to Run Till March 14 in Patiala; 14 Women and 17 Men from Haryana Included, Swedish Coach Santiago Nieva Returns
Haryana is steadily emerging as a major hub of boxing in India. In the National Coaching Camp, 31 out of the total 64 selected boxers are from Haryana. This includes 14 female boxers and 17 male boxers, meaning nearly 45% of the camp participants belong to Haryana, reflecting the state’s growing dominance in the sport.
The Sports Authority of India (SAI) has released the list of boxers selected for the National Camp. The camp is being held at NIS Patiala in Punjab and will continue until March 14. During this period, the selected athletes will undergo high-level training and preparation under expert coaches and support staff. Special focus will be given to improving fitness, technique, match strategy, and mental strength, with the goal of enhancing India’s performance at the international level.
The camp has been organized keeping in mind the upcoming Los Angeles Olympics, Olympic qualification tournaments, and other major international events. Boxers will receive structured training sessions, regular sparring practice, and performance improvement drills. Complete arrangements for food and accommodation have also been made at the camp venue itself, ensuring that the athletes can train in a disciplined and comfortable environment without distractions.
Meanwhile, a major update has also come regarding the Indian women’s boxing team. Swedish-origin coach Santiago Nieva has returned once again as the head coach of the Indian women’s team. Nieva is widely regarded as an experienced and successful coach at the international level, and his comeback is expected to strengthen the team further.
It is reported that during the Tokyo Olympics cycle, Santiago Nieva played a crucial role in helping India secure Olympic quotas in 9 out of the 14 categories. His return has raised hopes of improved performance and stronger results for the women’s boxing squad in the upcoming competitions.
At the same time, the strong presence of Haryana boxers in the National Camp clearly indicates that the state is becoming one of the biggest centers of Indian boxing and is likely to produce even more top-level athletes in the future.