India, Sept. 29 -- Around two months ago, with Indian women basking in the spotlight of a record boxing haul from the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Parveen Hooda returned as the only female boxer without a medal. Around three years ago, she returned from the Asian Games with a 57kg bronze, only for it to be scratched.

All through those months of serving a doping suspension for whereabouts failures, Parveen prayed for another opportunity. All through this month-and-a-half of the quick CWG-Asian Games turnaround, she quietly worked behind the scenes towards another opportunity.

And when it came at the Nishio Gymnasium in Aichi, it pushed Parveen's redemption arc at the 2026 Asian Games.

The pugilist from Haryana defeated China's Li Shu 5-0 i...