India's boxing stars Sachin Siwach and Preeti Pawar were welcomed back at Delhi Airport following a record-breaking 10-medal haul at Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow, with both champions already focused on Asian Games glory.
Indian boxers Sachin Siwach and Preeti Pawar received a warm welcome at Delhi Airport on Tuesday after helping India to its best-ever Commonwealth Games boxing medal haul — seven gold medals and 10 medals overall at Glasgow 2026.
Siwach, who claimed gold in the men's 60 kg category with a dramatic 3-2 split decision victory over Namibia's Tryagain Morning Ndevelo in the final, spoke of the emotion that drives him to compete. 'When the national flag is hoisted, there is a different kind of happiness. This is what we play for. I want to bring gold from the Asian Games. I want to tell everyone to keep believing like this and keep encouraging us,' he told ANI.
Preeti Pawar, a 2022 Asian Games bronze medallist, secured the women's 54 kg gold by defeating Canada's Scarlett Delgado via unanimous decision in the final on Saturday. The 2026 Asian Games in Japan, beginning September 19, are firmly in her sights — as is a longer-term ambition. 'Our next target is the Asian Games and the LA 2028 Olympics. We cannot express our happiness on hearing the National Anthem play there. It is something that you can only feel,' she said.
India finished fourth in the overall medals table at Glasgow 2026 with 39 medals — 13 gold, 17 silver, and nine bronze. The Games were held under a compact format that saw several traditional Indian medal-earning sports, including shooting, hockey, wrestling, and badminton, removed from the programme.
On the sidelines of the Closing Ceremony, India was officially handed the Commonwealth Games Flag as the country begins preparations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Amdavad, the centenary edition of the event.
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.