NEW DELHI: Parveen Hooda, the 26-year-old from Rurki village in Rohtak district, Haryana, has rewritten her story with quiet resolve. On October 2, she defeated Chen Nien-chin of Chinese Taipei by a 3-2 split decision in the women’s 65 kg final at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, securing India’s gold and becoming only the third Indian woman boxer to win an Asian Games boxing title.
INDIAN BOXING AT ASIAN GAMES 26 🇮🇳🥊
🥇 Lovlina Borgohain | Women’s 75kg
🥇 Parveen Hooda | Women’s 65kg
🥇 Ankush Panghal | Men’s 80kg
🥉 Kapil Pokhariya | Men’s 90kg
🥉 Narender Berwal | Men’s +90kg
🥉 Priya Ghanghas | Women’s 60kgBEST EVER PERFORMANCE FOR INDIAN BOXING TEAM… pic.twitter.com/AW1If6HqYB
— The Khel India (@TheKhelIndia) October 2, 2026
The victory marks a full-circle moment. In 2022 at Hangzhou she had earned a bronze in the 57 kg category. That medal was later stripped after a whereabouts failure, resulting in a 22-month suspension that cost her a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Parveen Hooda on the victory podium after winning GOLD medal (Boxing) ♥️ #AichiNagoya2026 #AG2026withIAS pic.twitter.com/Qri560BYZ4
— India_AllSports (@India_AllSports) October 2, 2026
Facing adversity at home
The ban coincided with profound personal difficulty. Her father, Lakhpat Hooda, was undergoing treatment for stage-three throat cancer. The family faced emotional and practical strain, yet Parveen remained a source of strength.
#WATCH | Rohtak, Haryana: Indian boxer Parveen Hooda clinched women's 65 kg gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026
Her mother, Neelam Hooda, says, "Her match went very well today. Our daughter won the gold medal for India. It feels amazing; we are overjoyed. Everyone is… https://t.co/k5Sxu8h4Ph pic.twitter.com/VxDNmnLy8K
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
Her mother, Neelam, recalls how her daughter recited the Hanuman Chalisa to steady herself and encouraged the household even as chemotherapy continued. The father’s recovery was complete last year; the medical costs were largely covered through Parveen’s position as an Assistant Sub-Inspector in the ITBP.
#WATCH | Rohtak, Haryana: Indian boxer Parveen Hooda clinched women's 65 kg gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026
Her father, Lakhpat Hooda, says, "It was a very tough competition. We were hopeful that our daughter would bring home the gold medal. She had said beforehand, "I… pic.twitter.com/zSDfMhFPtE
— ANI (@ANI) October 2, 2026
Earlier years had already tested the family. Lakhpat and Neelam sold buffalo milk and borrowed money for gloves, shoes and kit so their daughter could train. Coach Sudhir Hooda and local support at the Shaheed Baitun Singh Stadium helped nurture her talent from sub-junior state and national titles through youth international medals and the 2019 SAF Games gold.
Parveen’s mother Neelam Hooda reportedly told the Indian Express that Parveen fell in love with the sport despite the threats of injury and lack of resources to train for the game. Apparently, it was the then sarpanch and coach Sudhir Hooda who hired some boxing coaches at the Shaheed Baitun Singh Stadium.
“Parveen did not tell me initially about her going to the boxing training. She would go and sit at the stadium to watch the trainees train. I had told her not to go boxing as she would suffer injuries on her face and body and who would marry her if her face was broken. She would later sneak to train boxing and seeing her dedication and talk with the coaches, we understood that sports will make her life,” Neelam told IE.
It has been a tough journey and there was no guarantee that the risks they took on would ultimately pay off. But that is what defines passion and dedication, and Parveen had loads of it. “Prior to going to the national camp, we would borrow money from friends and relatives to get her boxing gloves as well as shoes and training needs. We would also sell the milk of the family buffalo to support the finances. I was doing a job as a supervisor at that time but the earnings were not that much,” Parveen’s father Lakhpat Hooda told IE.
The Road Back
After the suspension ended in May 2025, Parveen rebuilt systematically. She claimed gold at the BFI Cup and the World Boxing Cup in New Delhi (60 kg). A narrow 2-3 quarter-final loss at the Commonwealth Games did not deter her.
Moving up to 65 kg, she adapted her long-range style, straight jab, left hook and powerful rear hand, under coaches Anil Malik and Santiago Nieva.
The move from 57 kg to 65 kg over three years required careful adjustment. Coach Anil Malik, who trains her at the NCOE in Rohtak, explained that the focus was on developing her straight punches and combining her natural strength with the tactical awareness and motor skills needed at the higher weights.
🥇 हरियाणा की बेटी परवीन हुड्डा का गोल्डन पंच! 🥊🔥
एशियन गेम्स 2026 – आइची-नागोया में रोहतक जिले के रुरकी गांव की रहने वाली परवीन हुड्डा ने महिलाओं की 65 किग्रा बॉक्सिंग स्पर्धा में शानदार प्रदर्शन करते हुए स्वर्ण पदक अपने नाम किया। 🥇
पूरे देश को आप पर गर्व है! 🔥
#Gold pic.twitter.com/lHEqwZMdX4— Haryana Olympic Association (@Haryana_Olympic) October 2, 2026
Opponents in the 65 kg category carry greater power, so emphasis was placed on landing clean punches while using footwork to evade heavier shots. Indian women’s foreign head coach Santiago Nieva noted that the division suits her style particularly well: her strong rear right hand, paired with a straight jab and left hook, proves effective as a long-range boxer.
At Aichi-Nagoya she dominated the quarter-final against Uzbekistan’s Navbakhor Khamidova (5-0) and the semi-final against China’s Li Shu (5-0) before the closely contested final.
A victory for persistence
Her parents expressed measured pride. Neelam noted that Parveen had promised to give everything for the gold and kept her word. Lakhpat looked ahead to the World Cup in April and the 2028 Olympics.
Villagers in Rurki prepared a traditional welcome with churma upon her return on 4 October.Indian boxing’s overall performance at these Games, three golds and three bronzes, stands as its strongest yet.
Congratulatory messages pour in
I extend my warmest congratulations to Parveen Hooda on winning the Gold Medal in the Women’s 65kg Boxing event at the Asian Games 2026.
You fought your way to the top with skill, courage and conviction. Daughters like you make India feel so proud when our tricolour flutters…
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) October 2, 2026
The response across the country was swift and widespread. Congratulatory messages poured in from the President of India, Union ministers, the Haryana Olympic Association, ITBP, sports bodies and countless citizens on social media.
Unstoppable in the ring! 🥊🥇🇮🇳
Congratulations to Parveen Hooda for striking GOLD in the Women’s 65kg Boxing event at the #AsianGames2026. Keep shining, champ! #Cheer4Bharat pic.twitter.com/Qt5soRSU1E
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) October 2, 2026
Accounts celebrated not only the medal but the resilience behind it, noting that Indian boxing recorded its strongest Asian Games performance with multiple golds and bronzes on a memorable day.
Parveen Hooda’s contribution is the most resonant: a measured, hard-earned return that honours both her craft and the quiet support of her Haryana roots.
