Nishio, October 2 (Daily Kiran) : Indian boxer Parveen Hooda has emerged victorious at the Asian Games, clinching gold in the women’s 65 kg category. This achievement comes after a challenging two-year ban, during which she focused on building her mental strength. Parveen’s resilience played a crucial role in her ability to overcome obstacles and ultimately secure her victory on Friday.
In 2023, Parveen faced a 22-month suspension for violating the ‘whereabouts clause.’ After her ban, she returned to competition, but her struggles continued. At the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, she faced disappointment, losing in the quarter-finals of her weight class and missing out on a medal.
The ban also cost her the bronze medal from the 2022 Asian Games, making her comeback even more challenging. Rather than allowing these setbacks to define her, Parveen chose to start anew. On Friday, she defeated Taiwan’s Nien-Chin Che to win her first Asian Games gold, marking India’s second gold medal in women’s boxing at the current Games.
Reflecting on her journey, Parveen shared, “When everything happened to me, I felt mentally shattered. It felt like everything was over. I had to start from zero. I was sad for a few days, but then I pulled myself together. I realized that if I didn’t train and make a comeback, I would regret it for life. A small mistake led to so much. So, I decided to view everything from a different perspective.”
The 26-year-old boxer recalled the painful moments after her loss in Glasgow, where she found herself in tears while watching other Indian boxers succeed. “I stood there crying, thinking what’s the use of crying now? Let’s work hard. Otherwise, I’ll be crying again in the next competition. So, the next day, I got up and did strength training. I told myself I could cry as much as I wanted, but I would come to the next competition smiling.”
This mindset proved beneficial on Friday when Parveen faced another tough match. She dominated the first round with a 5-0 score, but Che responded with the same score in the second round. With the gold medal at stake, Parveen maintained her composure and won the final round 3-2. “In the third round, I had to make a decision. I remembered that I wanted to become a deputy director. Winning gold in Haryana would secure that position for me—my dream job. That motivated me to take the round in my favor.”
Parveen emphasized that instead of worrying about the outcomes, she learned to stay mentally neutral and focus on her performance. “I felt bad, but I was grateful for what boxing has given me. That’s why I thought about the results as stated in the Gita: focus on your actions, not the results. I committed to training wholeheartedly and giving my best. Whether the result came or not, I remained mentally neutral.”
Describing this phase of her career as a second journey, Parveen noted that her difficult experiences made her stronger and more mature. “I can say this is my second journey, but this time I’m stronger because when we start over, we become mentally tougher. I have become more self-reliant and no longer depend on others. I am more mature and mentally resilient.”
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