Preeti Pawar said a battle with hepatitis before the Paris Olympics tested her physically but strengthened her mentally, helping fuel her comeback to Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, the 22-year-old credited Army support, structured nutrition and sports psychology as she shifted focus to the upcoming Asian Games.
As Preeti Pawar landed one jab after another on a hapless Scarlett Delgado in Glasgow, one could be forgiven for thinking that the Indian pugilist was a veteran cruising to another gold medal. But as the headgear came off and she stood on the podium holding her gold medal aloft, the 22-year-old, affiliated with JSW's Inspire Institute of Sport, showed that this was only the beginning.
Preeti was dominant and fast, matching speed with accuracy to keep her opponents at bay. She did not concede a single round on her way to the gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Her ruthlessness could be attributed to a soldier's mindset, something she developed during her time in the Indian Army.
"I am from the Indian Army," Preeti said with pride in an exclusive conversation with The Free Press Journal.
"When I think that I am from the Indian Army, I get excited. I want to give my best. You can understand how strong a soldier's mindset is. The Indian Army has given me a lot of support. When we don't have a national camp, we have facilities to train at the Army Sports Institute.
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