Jaismine Lamboria, the first woman boxer in the Indian Army, aims for gold at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The 24-year-old,fresh off a world championship win in the 57kg class, wants to upgrade her bronze from Birmingham 2022.
Calm like cricket icon MS Dhoni,Lamboria is laser-focused. "I want to change that medal to gold," she said,driven to excel in upcoming event .
At 5 feet 8½ inches,she's tall for Indian boxing. Her Olympic debut in Paris ended quickly against silver medallist Nesthy Petecio from the Philippines. But that loss sparked her comeback. Back to 57kg category, she captured the world title,defeating Poland's Julia Atena Szeremeta .
"Paris 2024 was a letdown, but a wake-up call," Lamboria admitted. Training at Pune's Army Sports Institute has boosted her strength and grit.
After her Birmingham success,Lamboria joined Indian Army's Corps of Military Police and trains under its Mission Olympics Wing. "It's an honor to start this journey, and chance to inspire female athletes," she said.
The Army's new Girls Sports Company targets young female athletes aged 12 to 16 in Olympic sports like boxing. It aims to pave a route to top-level competition and army roles. Lamboria takes pride in these athletes' successes,noting one already won gold at the Asian Championships.
From Bhiwani, Haryana,a boxing hub,Lamboria's roots run deep. Her great-grandfather,Hawa Singh,was a heavyweight champ,winning Asian Games golds in 1966 and 1970. He founded the Bhiwani Boxing Club, nurturing talents like Olympic medallist Vijender Singh.
Despite boxing in her blood, Lamboria's start was humble. Her father,Jaiveer,is a home guard,and her mother, Joginder,a homemaker. "Their support is why I was the first girl in my family to pursue sport seriously," she said.
Lamboria draws inspiration from Olympic medallists MC Mary Kom and Vijender Singh,Indian Army boxers Amit Panghal and Manish Kaushik,and international stars like Michael Phelps. She also looks up to senior Indian boxers Nikhat Zareen, Lovlina Borgohain, and Pooja Rani.
As she prepares for the Games, Lamboria knows her role in male-dominated sport is crucial. "Being a woman boxer and an Army athlete means competing on world stage, proving myself, and inspiring others," she said.
Women's boxing entered Commonwealth Games in 2014. Lamboria's bouts in Glasgow begin July 24,with finals on July 31 and August 1. After her bronze in Birmingham,she's set on bringing home gold. "Overseas, when the anthem plays,it's a different feeling," she recalled from the World Championships in Liverpool. "That's moment I want to recreate."
