BFI president Ajay Singh says ‘exceptional’ Indian boxers ‘exceeded expectations’

02 Aug 2026, 06:34 pm IST|
BFI president Ajay Singh says ‘exceptional’ Indian boxers ‘exceeded expectations’
Image source

BFI president Ajay Singh said ‘exceptional’ Indian boxers ‘exceeded expectations’ at the Commonwealth Games. India’s men’s head coach C.A. Kuttappa and women’s head coach Santiago Nieva praised the squad while also acknowledging the challenges that remain.

Singh made his remarks following India’s showing at the Commonwealth Games, offering an assessment of the boxing contingent’s overall performance. As president of the Boxing Federation of India, his comments reflected the federation’s appraisal of how the athletes measured up against pre-tournament projections. C.A. Kuttappa oversees the men’s coaching group and Santiago Nieva leads the women’s programme, and both spoke positively about the competitors’ efforts. Each of the leaders paired commendation with recognition that further work will be required.

By calling the boxers ‘exceptional’ and saying they ‘exceeded expectations’, Singh summed up the federation’s view that the team outperformed forecasting. The wording captured both a sense of achievement and an acknowledgement that the outcomes went beyond initial anticipations. Those remarks formed part of the officials’ public response to the campaign.

Kuttappa commented on the men’s unit and Nieva expressed similar satisfaction with the women’s performances. Both coaches noted that, despite the positives, challenges remain for the squad going forward. Their observations combined immediate praise for the athletes with a realistic appraisal of the tasks ahead.

The statements from the federation president alongside the two head coaches presented a cohesive message about Indian boxing after the Games. They recognised the accomplishments in the moment while also emphasising the importance of sustaining and raising standards. That balance of pride and pragmatism framed the leadership’s reaction to the campaign.

The leadership’s evaluation underscored confidence in the athletes’ displays as well as an awareness of tasks remaining for the programme. Their comments close the immediate chapter on the Games while underlining the need for continued attention to the sport’s progress.

BFIAjay SinghC.A. KuttappaSantiago NievaCommonwealth Games