India’s Jaismine Lamboria celebrates after winning the women’s 57kg boxing final. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Just weeks before stepping into the ring at the Commonwealth Games, Jaismine Lamboria wasn’t thinking about medals. She was searching for answers. The recurring fever had refused to go away.Multiple medical tests showed nothing unusual and the Indian boxer tried to push through, managing the symptoms with paracetamol. When the illness persisted, she was admitted to a hospital in Mohali. Doctors finally diagnosed a bacterial infection, putting her on an intensive 14-day course of medication. For an athlete preparing for one of the biggest competitions of the year, it could easily have been the end of the campaign.Instead, it became the beginning of one of the most remarkable comebacks of her career. “I was avoiding further medical tests because the initial reports were coming back normal. We didn’t know what exactly had to be treated. Finally, after I was admitted, they detected a bacterial infection and I was on medication for 14 days,” the 57kg boxer said.When she was discharged, the clock was already ticking. Barely three weeks remained before the Games. “I started training only on July 1. Initially it was just warm-up, walking and stretching. I had very little time, so we had to be patient.”The physical recovery was only one part of the challenge. During those uncertain weeks, sports psychologist Priya Vrinda became a constant source of support, ensuring the illness didn’t break her confidence.“When I was sick, I was already connected with Priya Vrinda ma’am. She kept me mentally strong and never allowed me to go down,” Jaismine said. That resilience was evident when she returned to competition. Jaismine boxed with maturity, tactical discipline and composure to upgrade the Commonwealth bronze she had won four years ago into gold in the 57kg.One of Jaismine’s biggest assets inside the ring has been her reach in her category. While every opponent may not be shorter — Jaismine stands five feet seven inches in her socks — she believes her physical advantage has become an important weapon thanks to careful coaching. “My coaches taught me how to use my reach properly. It definitely gives me an advantage in many bouts.”