India’s Commonwealth Games silver medallist Jadumani Singh credited veteran boxer Sarita Devi for shaping his journey, saying her constant guidance and unwavering belief played a defining role in his campaign at the Commonwealth Games 2026.
Jadumani won silver in the men’s 55kg boxing event after losing by unanimous decision to Australia’s Jye Dixon in Saturday’s final. The 22-year-old pushed Dixon throughout the three-round contest, but the Australian’s disciplined counter-punching and cleaner scoring shots proved decisive as Jadumani settled for a memorable silver medal on his Games debut.
Speaking after the final, Jadumani described Sarita as a guiding force in his career since childhood and said she remained closely involved throughout the Commonwealth Games, offering support that extended beyond the ring.
‘She constantly guided me’: Jadumani on Sarita Devi’s role
Jadumani said Sarita’s support has been consistent over the years, helping him with key aspects of being an athlete. “Sarita Devi ma’am has supported me immensely since my childhood. She has done so much for me, whether it was guiding me about my diet, training, or every other aspect of being an athlete. She speaks to me every day and regularly video calls me. She has always taught me how to approach the sport and what it takes to become a successful boxer,” he told IANS.
He added that her involvement became even more significant during the Commonwealth Games, where she tracked his progress bout by bout and helped him prepare for each new challenge. “During this competition, her support was even more significant. She constantly guided me on how to fight, what to do, and what to avoid. She watched every one of my bouts and gave me valuable feedback after each fight,” Jadumani said.
Jadumani also highlighted the motivational side of Sarita’s mentorship, saying her belief in him mattered deeply during the pressure of a major multi-sport event. “She kept motivating me by telling me that I would return home with the gold medal. That belief and encouragement meant a lot to me,” he added.
While the final did not end with the top step of the podium, Jadumani said the medal has strengthened his confidence and sharpened his focus for what comes next. “I am happy to have won a medal for India, but of course I wanted the gold. This silver will motivate me to work even harder. My focus now is on improving myself and performing well in the Asian Games and other major international competitions,” he said.
Jadumani’s path to the final in Glasgow featured a string of wins that underlined his consistency across the tournament. He opened his campaign with a dominant victory over Scotland’s Aaron Cullen, then defeated Pakistan’s Sumama Rehman in the round of 16.
He continued his run with convincing victories over Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale in the quarter-finals and Namibia’s Philip Haoseb in the semi-finals, booking his place in the gold medal bout against Dixon.
In the final, Jadumani started positively and matched Dixon in the opening exchanges before the Australian gradually gained control with precise counter-attacks. Jadumani continued to press until the final bell, but Dixon’s tactical discipline and cleaner scoring shots proved decisive, earning the Commonwealth Games title for Australia while Jadumani finished with silver.
What the CWG 2026 silver means for Jadumani Singh
Although he fell short of gold, Jadumani’s silver medal represents a significant outcome from his Commonwealth Games debut and adds to India’s boxing story at the event. For the 22-year-old, the result is also a marker of progress after navigating multiple rounds and opponents to reach the final.
With the Commonwealth Games campaign now complete, Jadumani has already set his sights on the next stage of his career, pointing to the Asian Games and other major international competitions as his immediate targets as he looks to build on the confidence gained from Glasgow.
