Santiago Nieva Returns as Head Coach for Indian Women's Boxing Team

The Boxing Federation of India has appointed Santiago Nieva as the Head Coach of the Indian Women's National Boxing Team. With a successful history in coaching, Nieva aims to elevate the team's performance as they prepare for the upcoming Olympic cycle. His return comes at a time when the women's team has achieved remarkable success, including a medal sweep at the World Boxing Cup Finals. Nieva's extensive experience and previous tenure in India are expected to significantly enhance the team's prospects for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Read on to discover more about his vision and the future of Indian women's boxing.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 29, 2025, 02:21 IST

Santiago Nieva Takes the Helm of Indian Women's Boxing

New Delhi, November 28: The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has officially named Santiago Nieva as the Head Coach for the Indian Women's National Boxing Team, marking a significant return for one of the sport's leading high-performance coaches.

Nieva, a Swedish coach who previously held the position of High Performance Director for India from 2017 to 2021, re-enters the scene at a pivotal time for Indian women's boxing. His goal is to further enhance the team's performance as they prepare for an important Olympic cycle, according to a statement from BFI.

Recently, the national women's team has achieved remarkable success, including a medal sweep at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025 in Greater Noida, where they secured seven gold, one silver, and two bronze medals, with many podium finishes in crucial Olympic weight categories. As the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle approaches, Nieva aims to position Indian women as formidable contenders for medals across all weight classes.

Nieva's appointment is a strategic move to bolster India's long-term Olympic strategy, emphasizing the federation's dedication to high-performance training, scientific methodologies, and elite coaching standards.

Expressing his enthusiasm, Nieva stated, “I am thrilled to return to India. My previous five years here were incredible, and I look forward to this new chapter. Together, we can achieve something significant. I have experienced great success with women boxers before, and I see immense potential in the Indian women's team. Our goal for the LA Olympics in 2028 is to make history.”

With over 20 years of international coaching experience, Nieva has held key high-performance roles in boxing worldwide. After his previous tenure in India, he served as the National Head Coach and Technical Lead for Boxing Australia's High Performance Unit. He also played a crucial role in developing Sweden's national boxing program, leading athletes through World Championships, Olympic qualifiers, and multi-sport events.

BFI President Ajay Singh remarked on Nieva's appointment, stating, “Santiago's return is a significant advancement for our women's program. His exceptional technical skills and international experience will greatly benefit our athletes. They have proven their ability to compete on the world stage, and with Santiago's guidance, we are optimistic about enhancing India's presence and aspirations in global competitions.”

Singh also acknowledged the valuable contributions of D Chandralal, the former head coach of the Elite Women’s Team, affirming that he will continue to play a vital role within the Indian coaching staff.

Nieva's earlier tenure in India had a profound impact on the country's high-performance framework. Under his leadership, Indian boxing achieved two podium finishes at the 2019 Men's World Championships, with Amit Panghal winning silver and Manish Kaushik earning bronze. This success paved the way for India's largest-ever Olympic boxing team at Tokyo 2020, where Lovlina Borgohain clinched a historic bronze medal.