Roman Reigns inspired his punches; Andre Russell earned him a nickname: Meet Army havaldar and Asian Games medallist Kapil Pokhariya | Boxing News
NEW DELHI: Jumping on cotton-filled mattresses, punching pillows, throwing them over walls and hitting a homemade punching bag filled with mountain soil – Kapil Pokhariya’s childhood was all about pro-wrestling.His fascination with pro-wrestler Roman Reigns was well known in his locality. He would skip meals, playtime, and outings to watch WWE programming on television. Once the show was over, he would try to copy the moves and punches at home.Little did he know that this childhood fascination could one day bring him his biggest recognition.Today, Kapil – an Indian Army havaldar – is an Asian Games medallist. Kapil won bronze in the men’s 90kg boxing event at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.“I never knew that copying Roman Reigns and practising those punches would bring me this far. I used to save recordings of his videos, and I still have them. I am really proud of where I am today. Honestly, I started learning how to throw punches by copying Roman Reigns (laugh),” Kapil told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.“My favourite was WrestleMania and Money in the Bank,” he said.
From Khatima to the Asian Games podium
Kapil hails from Chakarpur village in Khatima, Uttarakhand, far from the major boxing centres that have produced several Indian stars.His father, Narendra Singh Pokhariya, served in the Indian Army. He wanted his son to study well and join the Army as a commissioned officer. Boxing, however, was never part of the original plan.
Kapil Pokhariya with his father (Image credit: Special arrangement)
Narendra often watched his son copy WWE stars at home. Initially, he would scold and even beat him for damaging things around the house. But his view slowly changed when he saw Kapil putting sand into a thick sack after returning from school and punching it with all his strength.“A teacher used to teach boxing at a nearby school. I saw the students punching a bag and decided to make one myself. My father scolded me in the beginning, but later he took me to a training centre and got me admitted there. That is how I got into boxing,” Kapil said.
From a small training ground to the boxing ring
Kapil did not begin his boxing journey at a big academy. His first steps came at a small training ground, where he practised alongside boys of his age and those who were older. After a few months, he began training under a coach.“I come from a small village where boxing was never a popular sport. Pooran Bohra sir was there. He trained a small group of boys for just a few hours on selected days of the week. But I was interested in learning. I listened to him carefully and repeated everything he taught me when I returned home,” Kapil said.With time, Kapil developed as a boxer and competed in his first state-level competition in 2015. He went into the tournament with excitement but came away disappointed. His first competitive bout ended in defeat in the opening round.“I was really disappointed. It was the first bout of my life, and I was seeing such a large crowd for the first time. I lost in the first round. But that competition and the defeat taught me a lot. My interest in boxing grew even stronger after that,” he said.
Kapil Pokhariya (Image credit: Special arrangement)
Kapil returned with a different mindset at the national-level competition. This time, he did more than win his bouts – he also claimed the gold medal. The prize money was followed by a job in the Indian Army. He joined the force in April 2017 and was appointed as a havaldar. His boxing career took a big step forward after that.The Army gave him opportunities to improve his skills and compete at a higher level. He began training more seriously, took part in Services competitions, won medals and continued to grow as a boxer.“My father wanted me to study and join the Army as a commissioned officer. He joined as a sepoy and retired as a havaldar. But he wanted me to reach a higher rank if I joined the Indian Army,” Kapil said.“He was very happy. The day I won a national medal, he hugged me. That was when I realised that I had achieved something big in my life,” Kapil said.“Now, after winning this Asian Games medal, I will be promoted to naib subedar. Papa said, ‘Ab tu mera senior ho gaya hai’,” the Indian boxer recalled with a smile.
Kapil Pokhariya (Image credit: Special arrangement)
The ‘Andre Russell ’ of Khatima
Like many children in India, Kapil also grew up playing gully cricket. He even played inter-village cricket in Uttarakhand.His height, muscular build and powerful hitting made him a popular figure on the local cricket grounds. His ability to hit big sixes earned him the nickname ‘Russell’, after West Indies power-hitter Andre Russell.“I loved Andre Russell. I also liked Hardik Pandya. People used to call me ‘Khatima ka Russell’ because of my power. The boys wanted me in their team because I could hit big sixes,” he said, laughing.
Kapil Pokhariya (Image credit: Special arrangement)
The Road Ahead and LA 2028 Dream
For Kapil, the Asian Games bronze is only the beginning. His biggest dream is to represent India at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and win a medal.Under the Boxing Federation of India’s selection criteria, Asian Games medallists will be selected as the main entries in their respective weight categories for the 2027 World Boxing Championships in Astana, Kazakhstan. The tournament is scheduled for April and will be the first qualifying event in boxing for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.Kapil knows there is still a long road ahead. “Rukna nahi hai ab, bas aage dekhna hai,” he said.“The Olympics is the ultimate dream. I want to go there, represent my country and win a medal. That is the only thing on my mind right now. I am preparing for the World Championships in April,” he added.
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