BFI appoints sports science expert Nilsson for LA 2028 preparations

The Boxing Federation of India has appointed Mats Rickard Nilsson as Head of Sports Science to strengthen athlete preparation ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He will work with boxers and coaches, combining on-ground engagement with remote support

Hyderabad: The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has appointed Mats Rickard Nilsson as its Head of Sports Science, with the aim of building a robust support system to help Indian boxers maximise their potential and excel on the international stage.

Nilsson, who has worked with the Swedish Olympic contingent, will work closely with athletes and the coaching staff to strengthen scientific training methodologies, performance monitoring and athlete development ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

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“This appointment marks an important step in the Boxing Federation of India’s efforts to strengthen its sports science ecosystem and integrate a structured, evidence-based approach into athlete preparation,” BFI president Ajay Singh said.

“Through a combination of on-ground engagement and continuous remote support, the initiative aims to ensure consistent performance assessment, scientific training interventions and individualised athlete development,” he added.

The former Swedish Olympic weightlifter worked with Indian boxers in 2019 and has over 30 years of experience as a strength and conditioning expert, having worked with elite athletes across the globe.

Under his current terms of engagement with the BFI, Nilsson will spend 75 days annually with the Indian boxing team in multiple phases and provide remote support to the BFI Sports Science team for the rest of the year.

His primary responsibilities will include monitoring athletes’ progress, reviewing performance data, developing and sharing scientific training plans, and providing regular recommendations and expert inputs to ensure continuity in the athletes’ training and development programmes.

“I am delighted to join the Indian boxing programme and contribute to a team with tremendous potential. Having observed the boxers, coaches and support staff, I believe there is a strong foundation to build on. My focus will be to work closely with the coaching team on a shared approach to physical preparation, training load management and recovery, ensuring every aspect of an athlete’s preparation contributes to performance. The aim is to help our boxers stay healthy, perform consistently and take the next step on the international stage,” Nilsson said.