Santiago Nieva, the Argentine-born Swedish coach, is set to make a comeback to the Indian boxing landscape as the head coach of the women's team. Nieva previously served as the High-Performance Director (HPD) for Indian boxing from 2017 to 2022. His return is anticipated around December 20, marking a significant development for the team as they prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
During his earlier tenure, Nieva primarily worked with the men's squad and oversaw noteworthy achievements, including India's highest-ever participation at the Tokyo Olympics and two historic medals at the 2019 Men's World Championships. His return is viewed as a major boost for the women's program, with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) expressing confidence that his technical excellence and international insight will greatly benefit the system.
Nieva himself expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "Super excited to come back to India. I had five wonderful years here in my previous stint. I am very much looking forward to this next chapter, and hopefully, we can create something big together". He also noted the immense potential within the Indian women's team and set his sights on achieving significant milestones at the LA 2028 Olympics.
The BFI plans to utilize Nieva's expertise to strengthen the women's program and build a sustainable pathway toward consistent podium success at the highest level. BFI President Ajay Singh stated that Nieva's return comes at the perfect moment for Indian women's boxing.
Indian women boxers have demonstrated impressive performance recently, securing four medals, including two gold, at the World Championships, in addition to a 10-medal haul at the World Boxing Cup Finals at home. Nieva's appointment is expected to further leverage this momentum. His responsibilities include developing depth within the team, refining technical systems, and establishing world-class training structures.
D Chandralal, the current head coach, will remain part of the coaching staff. The BFI is also planning to assign Chandralal to a strong leadership role with the men's boxing team; however, Chandralal's consent is pending. Dharmendra Yadav will also remain within the system.
In addition to Nieva's appointment, the BFI intends to recruit a foreign coach for the men's team, a coach educator, and a development coach for youth and junior boxers by the first quarter of next year. These appointments will be made in consultation with Nieva, leveraging his knowledge of international coaches. Furthermore, South African Wayne Lombard will contribute as a strength and conditioning coach, providing a program to be implemented by others due to his other commitments.
Nieva's contract with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) extends until the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028. The BFI has proposed a three-year contract with a monthly remuneration of $12,000.
Nieva brings over two decades of elite international coaching experience to his new role. Before rejoining India, he served as the National Head Coach and Technical Lead of Boxing Australia's High-Performance Unit. He also held the position of Head Coach and Sports Director of Sweden's national program.
