What are the different weight categories for boxing in the Olympics?

India has won only three medals at the quadrennial event.

Boxing as an event in the Olympics was first introduced in 1904. It was not part of the 1912 Olympics but has been a regular member since. Only men’s boxing was a part of the Olympics till 2012. Women’s boxing in the Olympics was first introduced in the London 2012 games.

Since introducing women’s boxing into Olympics, the Olympic authorities have done their best to maintain a level of equality. The Paris 2024 Olympic games will see 13 different weight categories for men and women combined. The men’s division will have seven weight categories, one less than Tokyo 2020. The Women’s division will see six weight categories, one more than Tokyo 2020.

The United States is the most successful country in terms of medals won for boxing in the Olympics, winning a total of 110 medals. India has won three medals for boxing in the Olympics. The first medal came in the 2008 Beijing Olympics which was won by Vijender Singh. The other medalists for boxing in India are Mary Kom and Lovlina Borgohain.

Men's weight classes

The men’s weight categories to be included in the Paris Olympics in 2024 have been divided into seven classes. This is one lower than the eight weight categories that were in play in Tokyo 2020. The lowest weight category is 51kgs while the highest is 92+kgs. The two weight categories of 69kgs and 75kgs that were included in Tokyo 2020 have been merged into one weight category of 71kg for Paris 2024. The different weight categories for men's boxing at the Paris Olympics are:

• 51kg
• 57kg
• 63.5kg
• 71kg
• 80kg
• 92kg
• +92kg

The only Indian man to win a medal in Olympics boxing is Vijender Singh. Vijender Singh won the bronze medal in the men’s middleweight (75kg) category in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics. Singh still remains the only Indian man to win an Olympic medal for boxing.

Women's weight classes

The women’s weight categories have been divided into six classes for Paris 2024. This is one more than the five weight categories that were included in Tokyo 2020. The lowest weight category is 50kgs while the highest is 75kgs. The different weight classes for women’s boxing at the Paris Olympics are:

• 50kg
• 54kg
• 57kg
• 60kg
• 66kg
• 75kg

Boxing for Women in Olympics was first introduced in 2012 and multiple times world champion from India, Mary Kom, didn’t take long to write her name in the Olympics history books as she won the bronze medal in 2012 at the London Olympics. Mary Kom won the bronze medal in the 51kg (flyweight) category, becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal in boxing at the Olympics.

In Tokyo 2020, India won one medal in the Olympics boxing. Lovlina Borgohain became the second Indian woman to win a medal in the Olympics for boxing. She won the bronze medal in the Welterweight(69kg) category. Lovlina created history in doing so, becoming the first person from her state to win an Olympic medal.

25-year-old Lovlina Borgohain will also be a favourite to win a medal in Paris 2024. However, that won’t come easy for her. The 69kg weight category in which she won her bronze in Tokyo has been disbanded. This means that the boxer will have to either compete in the 66kg weight category or in the 75kg weight category. However, with almost two years to prepare, Lovlina is still India’s best hope for a medal in boxing at the Paris Olympics.