Lovlina Borgohain may have won an Olympic bronze medal in Tokyo, but her achievements this week – reaching the final of the Women’s World Championships in Delhi to get at least a silver medal – may be even more significant. The reason: she is fighting in an altogether new weight category. Her Tokyo bronze was meant to be a stepping stone to bigger things, but misfortune struck when the categories for the 2024 Paris Olympics were announced last year. The 69kg category in which Lovlina won bronze was scrapped, meaning she would have to either cut weight to make the 66kg category, or go up to 75kg. Given her taller height, to make sure she does not suffer weakness or loss of power, she chose the latter. Making weight is a constant source of stress for amateur boxers. Annual continental and world championships have each weight category. But multi-sport events like the Olympics - the ultimate goal for an amateur boxer - reduce the number of categories for logistical reasons. They usually pick the categories that accommodate the maximum number of boxers, but they regularly change for every edition, which requires adjustments in every four-year cycle. The everyday weight of boxers tends to be higher than their weigh-in weight. Unlike other combat sports like wrestling, boxers are made to weigh-in every day of an event, as opposed to only one or two days prior to the event. Sometimes, boxers need to dehydrate their body to make weigh-in weight and still maintain their size and power advantage during the fight, which tends to be a risky, and potentially dangerous, choice. “If it’s not done correctly, cutting weight can be quite dangerous,” Santiago Nieva, the former high-performance director of Indian boxing, told The Indian Express. “When a boxer is used to their weight category, and at times, is already cutting 1-2kgs to meet the weigh-in requirement, going down further could cause problems.” Gaining weight, then, should be the more popular choice. But Nieva says the decision is more complicated than that. While greater size might suggest you should gain, higher speed and better footwork could give you an advantage if you cut. “When you are changing categories, nutritionists, physios, doctors all need to be consulted. Most of all, the player needs to be psychologically ready to do it. Not everyone can,” he says. Brazil’s Beatriz Ferreira will compete for a gold medal in Delhi on Sunday. She is a two-time Worlds medallist, and won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics – having consistently competed in 60kg, one of the more popular categories. Her English is weak, but the exasperated laugh and wide-eyed expression on her face when asked if she could go up or down in weight to compete, tells the story. “When it’s more than 2-3kgs, just don’t do it,” Leonardo Macedo, her coach and translator, says in broken English. “Know your body, respect your body.” Technical adjustment India’s Shashi Chopra boxed in the 63kg category in Delhi, losing in the Round of 16. She will need to gain weight to be able to be eligible for the 66kg category at the Olympics, and while she’s confident of doing it healthily, some adjustments in her footwork are causing more of a headache. Taller boxers enjoy greater reach, and therefore manage bouts on their backfoot with stronger side-to-side movement. Once you go up a weight category, the height advantage is usually nullified, meaning you need to be more aggressive and stronger on your front foot, becoming adept at fighting from close range. “Till 63kg, most boxers are shorter than me,” Shashi said. “When I move up to 66kg, I’m going to need to work more on the front foot.” Nieva agrees. He believes that most boxers he has worked with follow healthy practices while changing categories, and are able to manage their weight well. It is the more subtle adjustments in technique where they need more work. The change in weight is also a reason why trials for major championships – a big source of debate in the Olympic cycle – may not always be the right step. “We solved the weight issue by giving them 1kg extra when we held trials,” Nieva, who is in Delhi as coach of the Australian bocing team, said. “We know some boxers struggle in making weight. It hampers the preparation - you want the boxers to be in peak condition ahead of a major championships, not a trial. For that, they need time to get used to the weight.” When it comes to selection, he thinks a mix of both international performance and trials in competitive categories are the right way to go. Psychological effects Even just maintaining weigh-in weight can be tough. Australia’s Tina Rahimi won the 57kg bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games last year. In an extensive interview with The Daily Telegraph, Rahimi revealed the gruelling steps she had to take – including excessive physical training and dehydration – to lose weight when she realised she was about 1.8kgs over the weigh-in requirement when she landed in Birmingham. “When you must make weight, you need to dehydrate yourself. There are times you don’t drink water for a whole day, and go to sleep without any water in your system,” she tells The Indian Express. “The only way to avoid this is to maintain weight when you’re out of competition, and that needs a certain obsession with your weight.” Rahimi is the first female Muslim boxer to represent Australia internationally, and wears a hijab in the ring. So, she knows a thing or two about the psychological toll it can take when an athlete is constantly scrutinised, internally and externally, for their appearance. “I check my weight six-seven times a day. I need to make sure I’m eating clean constantly. Food is on my mind all the time. Mentally, and emotionally, it has impacted me. As professional athletes, we should be open to discuss this, maybe seek help,” she added. Four Indian boxers will win at least a silver medal at the World Championships. Of them, Lovlina and reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen have both changed categories in preparation for the Olympics. Nitu Ghanghas will need to go up a weight category and compete with Nikhat, while heavyweight boxer Saweety Boora may stay out entirely. Translating their Worlds achievements to Olympics success, then, may take some work.
