Kuttappa returns as head coach of Indian men’s boxing team for a third stint

CA Kuttappa, Dronacharya awardee, has returned as the head coach of the Indian men’s boxing team for a third stint, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) confirmed on Tuesday.

He replaces Dharmender Yadav at the helm, though Yadav, who was appointed last year, will continue to be part of the men’s coaching setup.  Kuttappa’s appointment comes at a key juncture for Indian boxing, with the Asian Games scheduled later this year in Japan, says a report on Olympics.com.

His first stint as the Indian men’s boxing team head coach ran from 2018 to 2021, a period which saw Amit Panghal become the first Indian male boxer to win a medal at the World Championships, courtesy of a silver in 2019.

Kuttappa, who was also part of the Indian boxing team’s support staff when Vijender Singh won bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, returned for a second stint as head coach in 2023 and oversaw India’s campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics. However, only two male Indian boxers qualified for Paris.

Indian male boxers had a medal-less outing at last year’s World Championships in Liverpool. In contrast, Indian women boxers enjoyed a stronger showing, with four podium finishes in Liverpool.

The reshuffle in India’s coaching setup also coincides with changes on the women’s side. Former high-performance director Santiago Nieva, who was appointed as the women’s foreign coach last month, has joined the national camp.

Indian boxers have been training at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports (NIS), Patiala, since January 12 and will continue their camp there until March 14 under the supervision of the national coaching and support staff.

The Indian boxers’ first international assignment of the year will be the Boxam International Tournament, beginning February 2 in La Nucia, Spain.