Parveen Hooda wins Asian Games boxing gold after years of setbacks

Indian boxer Parveen Hooda won her first Asian Games gold medal on Friday, defeating Chinese Taipei’s Chen Nien-chin 3-2 in a closely contested 65kg final. The moment after the bout drew attention as the two boxers embraced and smiled. Their exchange came after a contest in which Hooda secured the split-decision victory before celebrating her long-awaited title.

The gold marked a comeback for the 23-year-old, whose Asian Games bronze in the 57kg category in 2023 was later withdrawn following a whereabouts failure. She received a 22-month suspension and missed the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hooda said the episode left her mentally down and forced her to begin again.

She also described losing in the quarterfinals at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier in the year, saying she cried before deciding to use the defeat as motivation for harder training. She dedicated the new medal to her father, Lakhpat Hooda, who has been battling cancer for four years and also has a heart condition. Hooda said he had been hospitalised when she travelled to the 2023 Asian Games.

Her mother, Neelam Devi, sells milk to support the family. Hooda said she had kept her 2023 medal prominently displayed as a reminder to change its colour, and described the new gold as the fulfilment of that goal. Hooda, an ITBP assistant sub-inspector, said she planned to spend time with her family before preparing for next year’s World Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

She also said the Bhagavad Gita’s advice to focus on action rather than results helped her through the difficult period.