Parveen Hooda’s road to Asian Games gold: 22-month ban, cancer battle at home

Parveen Hooda's journey to winning a gold medal at the Asian Games has been marked by resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity. After receiving a 22-month ban from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for failing to provide whereabouts information in 2024, Parveen had to battle both the ban and the cancer battle of her father, Lakhpat Hooda, who was undergoing chemotherapy.

Despite these challenges, Parveen's mother, Neelam Hooda, encouraged her to focus on her goal of winning an Olympic medal. Parveen's father also played a crucial role in supporting her through her cancer treatment, which was covered by her medical card, and later, in hiring boxing coaches for her at the Shaheed Baitun Singh Stadium.

Parveen's dedication to boxing was evident as she trained secretly at the stadium, showing her commitment to the sport. Her hard work paid off when she won the gold medal in the women's 65kg category at the Asian Games, marking her return to the podium after the ban was lifted.