Weight-class gamble nearly cost Indian boxer Jadumani Singh a Glasgow silver

When the 50kg weight class was eliminated from the Commonwealth, Asian and Olympic programs, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam chose to move up to 55kg, a division already dominated by senior Indian boxers. The transition triggered a series of hurdles, from missing national championship qualification to failing the Sports Ministry’s Asian-ranking requirement, which threatened his participation in Glasgow. A Boxing Federation of India rule allowing World Cup medallists direct entry enabled him to compete, and he subsequently defeated the Services’ top boxer and other elite opponents to be named Best Boxer at the nationals.

He cleared the final selection trials, securing a spot on the Indian squad. In Glasgow, he won four 5-0 decisions before losing the final to Jye Dixon, delivering India its first boxing silver at the Games. His mentor, Laishram Sarita Devi, highlighted the tight schedule before the final as a factor that may have cost him gold and stressed the need for better recovery science.