The Boxing Federation of India has brought back Swedish coach Santiago Nieva as the head coach of the Indian women's national boxing team, marking his return to Indian boxing after four years. Nieva previously served as the High Performance Director of Indian boxing from 2017 to 2021, a period that saw significant achievements for Indian boxers on the global stage.
Proven Track Record with Indian Boxing
During his previous tenure as High Performance Director, Santiago Nieva oversaw one of the most successful periods in Indian boxing history. Lovlina Borgohain secured a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics under his guidance, while Amit Panghal won a silver medal at the 2019 World Championships and rose to become world number one in his weight category.
The Indian women's team has been performing exceptionally well recently, showcasing their potential with an impressive medal haul at the World Championships in Liverpool. The team collected two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze, demonstrating the depth of talent available for the new coach to work with.
Strong Team and Ambitious Goals
Nieva inherits a powerhouse team featuring some of India's most accomplished boxers. The squad includes world-class athletes such as Nikhat Zareen, Jaismine Lamboria, Lovlina Borgohain, and Parveen Hooda, providing a solid foundation for future success.
Expressing his enthusiasm about returning to Indian boxing, Santiago Nieva stated: "Super excited to come back to India. I had five wonderful years here in my previous stint. I am very much looking forward to this next chapter, and hopefully, we can create something big together."
The Swedish coach emphasized his confidence in working with women boxers and outlined his ambitious vision: "I have had great success working with women boxers in the past. There is a huge potential within the Indian women's team, and in LA (Olympics 2028), we'll be aiming for something big and create history."
Packed Competition Calendar Ahead
Following his successful stint with Indian boxing, Nieva most recently served as National Head Coach and Technical Lead of Boxing Australia's High Performance Unit. In his new role, he will focus exclusively on the women's team, taking over from former head coach D Chandralal who managed the team during their notable campaign this season.
BFI president Ajay Singh has confirmed that Nieva will be an integral part of the coaching setup. The appointment comes at a crucial time with the 2026 season featuring multiple major competitions including the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
Indian boxers will begin their international season with the Asian Championships in March, following their participation in the national championships. This packed schedule provides multiple opportunities for the team to showcase their skills and prepare for the ultimate goal of Olympic success in Los Angeles 2028.
