In brief
Jaismine Lamboria, the first woman boxer in the Indian Army, is gearing up for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games after capturing a World Cup and World Championship title in 2025. Despite a tough Olympic debut, she credits the Army’s rigorous training and mental coaching at the Army Sports Institute for sharpening her focus. Influenced by cricket legend MS Dhoni’s calm demeanor, Lamboria aims to bring home gold for India, breaking ground in a sport historically dominated by men. Her journey also inspires a new cohort of young girls recruited into the army’s Girls Sports Company.
She May Be the First, But She Won’t be the Last
Jaismine Lamboria is a 24‑year‑old from Haryana who made history by becoming the Indian Army’s first female boxer. Now training under the army’s Mission Olympics Wing at the Army Sports Institute in Pune, she is heading for Glasgow with a single goal: turn her bronze at Birmingham 2022 into a gold medal.
“I really admire MS Dhoni’s mindset. He’s known as ‘Captain Cool’ for a reason, and I want to be calm like him,” Lamboria said while preparing for today’s Commonwealth Games. The composure she seeks will be crucial as she faces the hardest bouts in her career.
After a 12‑round win at the 2025 World Cup in Astana and a victory over Phale‑tical olympian Julia Atena Szeremeta of Poland to claim the world title in Liverpool, Lamboria feels her peak is now within reach. She gained that world title after dropping back to the 57kg class during her Paris Olympic qualification campaign—a decision that paid off after a first‑round loss to Tokyo silver medalist Nesthy Petecio.
The loss in Paris was an eye‑opener that spurred physical and mental changes. “It prompted several changes in me, both physically and mentally. A significant part of that came from the Academy, where they refined my training and brought in a sports psychologist and motivational coach,” she told reporters. The army’s broader framework—via the newly launched Girls Sports Company—provides pathways for 12‑to‑16‑year‑olds to train in Olympic sports.
Growing up in Bhiwani, birthplace of Indian boxing, Lamboria was introduced to the sport by her uncles, Sandeep and Parvinder Singh. “They were the ones who got me started,” she says. She later trained under her grand‑uncle’s academy, run by Hawa Singh’s son.
Now, Lamboria feels she has an important role: inspiring future generations. She notes, “One boxer in the army has already won Asian Championships gold, which makes me really happy. I may have been the first female boxer in the Indian Army, but I won’t be the last.”
With bouts beginning on 24 July and finals on 31 July and 1 August, Lamboria’s path is a testament to perseverance and institutional support. She can’t wait to hear her national anthem play in the arena, a feeling she recalls vividly from Liverpool last year and hopes to recreate in Glasgow.
—Annesha Ghosh, Sports Writer
