Indian Army’s first woman boxer is eyeing Commonwealth gold

Jaismine Lamboria, a 24‑year‑old world champion, has joined the Indian Army’s Corps of Military Police and is training for the Glasgow Games, where she hopes to turn her bronze from Birmingham into gold.

"I admire MS Dhoni’s calm mindset. I want to be cool like him," she says, a mantra she carries into every round.

Lamboria’s path began in Bhiwani, “the Mini Cuba” of India, where her great‑grandfather Hawa Singh and uncles introduced her to boxing at age 14. Her father works as a home guard while her mother manages the household.

After two World Cup golds in 2025 and a world title in Liverpool, she returned to the 57kg class – a move that paid off at the Olympics.

The army’s new Girls Sports Company trains 12‑ to 16‑year‑olds in four Olympic sports, including boxing, creating a pipeline that already boasts an Asian Champions’ gold.

For Lamboria, the Commonwealth Games are another chance to lift the Indian flag high and inspire future female fighters.