Category: Boxing

by Abhishek Shukla

BFI’s REC Talent Hunt Programme heads to Guwahati with Eastern Open Talent Hunt

New Delhi, February 14, 2024: The Boxing Federation of India in association with REC Limited, a leading Maharatna Company under the Ministry of Power, has started the Talent Hunt Programme to discover and nurture India’s next boxing heroes. After three highly successful events, the programme now moves to Guwahati with the Eastern Open Talent Hunt scheduled to be held from March 2 to March 18, 2024 in Deshbhakta Tarun Ram Phookan Indoor Stadium.

This championship is part of the four open preliminary tournaments that the Boxing Federation of India planned to organise in all four corners of the country for elite, youth, junior and sub-junior categories for both men and women boxers.

The registration process for the REC Eastern Open Talent Hunt has already begun, with Junior/Sub-Junior registrations closing on February 24th, 2024, and Elite/Youth registrations closing on March 4th, 2024. The event will kickstart on March 2 with Junior and sub-junior events and will run until March 9, 2024, followed by the elite and youth events from March 11 to March 18, 2024.

These are open tournaments and anyone can participate and get themselves enrolled to showcase their skills. The winners will get a chance to be invited to participate in the pruning trials for inclusion in the BFI’s national camps and train under the guidance of experienced coaches and mentors as well as to represent the country.

The Khelo India Southern Open Talent Hunt Programme is ongoing at the SJPN National Youth Training Centre in Bengaluru and has seen the participation of over 841 boxers with 259 in the Junior/Sub-Junior category and over 582 in the Elite/Youth category.

Comparatively, the Western Open Talent Hunt which happened in January witnessed 213 participants in the Junior/Sub-Junior category and 299 participants in the Elite/Youth category, signifying a steady rise in engagements across different regions of India.

Following the Eastern Talent Hunt, a combined talent hunt program will take place that will feature the winners from all the Talent Hunt Programme.

by Abhishek Shukla

Amit, Sachin clinch gold as India finish 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament with 8 medals

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 11, 2024: Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal and national champion Sachin delivered stellar performances to clinch gold medals at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria, on Sunday.

Amit Panghal (51kg) pulled off a stunning 5-0 win over reigning world champion Sanzhar Tashkenbay. Much like his previous performances in the tournament, Amit dominated his opponent with pinpoint precision and speed in his attack. The national champion Amit was on target on most occasions with his trademark jab & left hook and didn’t let loose the grip of the bout even for a second.

As the bout progressed, the Indian pugilist became more and more dominant and stayed in attacking mode even in the third round. Sazakh kept looking for a way out during the whole bout but Amit stood his ground, securing his fourth consecutive unanimous decision win of the tournament to clinch the gold medal.

Contrary to the first match, Sachin (57kg) took some time to settle in against Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzafarov. Both the boxers were equally dominant in the first round though Sachin managed to win it by a slight 3-2 advantage.

The boxer from Haryana grew in confidence as the bout progressed and used his height advantage while timing his punches to perfection in the second and third rounds to emerge victorious by a 5-0 margin.

Meanwhile, the reigning world champion Nikhat Zareen missed her third Strandja gold medal after going down 2-3 in a closely fought final against Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova. Nikhat did not have the best of starts as her Uzbeki counterpart went aggressive from the word go.

The Indian pugilist found it hard to settle in as she lost the first round 1-4. Nikhat did find her rhythm in the second round but the former Junio Asian champion Sabina was very solid defensively and her quick head movements made it difficult for Nikhat to connect the punches as she found herself behind 2-3 in the second round.

The momentum shifted in the third round as the 27-year-old boxer from Telangana went into a complete offensive mode winning the round 5-0. However, it wasn’t enough to win the bout as she settled for silver.

Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) nearly pulled off a historic win against China’s Yang Liu. The final went down to the wire with the reigning world champion Yang winning the bout 4-1. Both the boxers were hesitant at the start and did not engage in attack as they waited for each other’s move. Arundhati lost the first round 2-3.

The Asian Games gold medallist Yang relied on her experience, employing calculated moves and prioritizing her defence. She strategically scored points at regular intervals, ultimately winning the bout.
Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg) lost 0-4 to Khodzhiev Anvarzhan of Kyrgyzstan in the final. The crowd witnessed an explosive start as both the boxers tried to earn points early in the match. Barun managed to make a mark in the initial minute but it was the boxer from Kyrgyzstan who was more aggressive among the two. Barun lost the first round 1-4. The Krygyz boxer took the challenge head-on in the second round and even forced a countdown against Barun to win it by 5-0.

The Indian boxer did manage to put up a solid fight in the third round winning it by 3-2 but the final verdict went against him.

Rajat (67kg) was the last pugilist in action for Team India against Kazakhstan’s Bekbauov Dulat. The bout was evenly poised throughout as it looked like it could go in anyone’s favour. Both the boxers used their strength and delivered multiple blows at regular intervals. The second and third rounds saw the Kazakh boxer making calculative moves as he scored points regularly which also helped him in the last round, giving him a 3-2 victory in the match.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions which saw the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Nikhat, Amit shine as six Indian boxers storm into finals at 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 10, 2024: Two time world champion Nikhat Zareen and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal put up a dominating show to enter the finals along with the four other Indian boxers at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Saturday.

Nikhat Zareen (50kg) was in action for the first semifinals of the day. With the crowd support behind the Bulgarian pugilist Zlatislava Chukanova, Nikhat started the bout cautiously, taking some time to get into the rhythm but did not lose hold of the game as she won the round 3-2.

Nikhat was clinical in the second round giving no room to her Bulgarian opponent to form an attack while delivering some accurate blows. Nkhat continued her domination in the third round as she maintained the composure, giving her opponent no chance of a comeback to seal the match with a 5-0 verdict. Nilkhat will square off against Uzbekistan’s Sabina Bobokulova in the gold medal match on Sunday.

It was an easy day at the office for India’s Amit Panghal (51kg) as he won his 3rd consecutive match with a unanimous 5-0 decision. Amit faced Turkey’s Gumus Samet and looked comfortable right from the start. Amit used his experience to attack when needed while smartly using his footwork to get away from the punches of the opponent. 

The Indian pugilist did not break a sweat as he continued to build on the momentum from the first round to get a comfortable win to enter the finals. Amit will take on the reigning world champion Kazakhstan’s Sanzhar Tashkenbay on Sunday.

On the other hand, Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) made light work of her opponent Jessica Triebeľová of Slovakia to secure a 5-0 win. The Indian pugilist utilized her smart movement and aggressive approach to dominate the bout throughout as she won each round with a 5-0 score to advance into the finals with a unanimous decision win. Arundhati will face a tough challenge from reigning World and Asian champion China’s Yang Liu on Sunday.

Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg) continued India’s dominance with an identical 5-0 unanimous decision win over Khenoussi Kamel of Algeria. Playing his first game of the competition after receiving bye in the quarterfinals Barun looked lethal and made full use of his technical ability combined with quick movements. Before the opponent figured out the counter attacking options, it was too late as Barun clinched the unanimous decision win and will take on Khodzhiev Anvarzhan of Kyrgyzstan in the finals on Sunday.

Sachin (57kg) was the last pugilist in action in the first session against Ukraine’s Abduraimov Aider and he didn’t disappoint. The Indian pugilist took some time to set his feat in the match as the Ukrainian boxer played the aggressor role. Sachin lost the first round with a close 2-3 score. 
The southpaw showed his class in the second round, as he made full use of his long reach and delivered multiple strong left hooks to the opponent. The third round was no different as Sachin successfully resisted every attempt by Aider and pinned him against the ropes, throwing a fury of accurate punches in return to grab a comeback 4-1 win. Sachin will go head to head against Uzbekistan’s Shakhzod Muzafarov in the finals on Sunday.

Rajat (67kg) also entered the finals after his opponent Guruli Lasha of Georgia gave him a walkover in the semis.

Akash (71kg) and Naveen Kumar (92kg) will be in action later tonight. Akash will be up against Uzbekistan’s Ikboljon Kholdarov while Naveen Kumar will face Georgii Kushitashvili of Georgia.

Late on Friday,  Deepak (75kg) and Abhimanyu Loura (80kg) bowed out of the tournament. Deepak lost 0-5 against Ummatalievu Javokhir of Uzbekistan and Abhimanyu Loura went down fighting against China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan with a scoreline of 1-4.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Nikhat, Arundhati through to the semis at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 8, 2024: Reigning World Champion Nikhat Zareen and Arundhati Choudhary secured comfortable wins and moved to the semifinals of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Thursday.

In the first quarter-final of the day, Nikhat (50kg) was in action against France’s Lkhadiri Wassila. It was a close encounter from the get go as both the boxers looked well prepared to tackle each other’s move. Nikhat used her quick movements and counter attacking game to go ahead of her opponent in the first round. The second round started on a similar note as both the boxers were cautious and didn’t commit much on the attacking front.

Though Nikhat managed to stay slightly ahead of her opponent in both the rounds, it looked like the bout could go in anyone’s favour.

It was the third round in which Nikhat looked at her absolute best as she dodged her opponent’s attacks efficiently while delivering some quality blows. Lkhadiri tried to be more aggressive but the Indian pugilist was equipped to deal with it as she won the bout with 5-0 unanimous decision.

Nikhat will now prepare to meet home favourite Zlatislava Chukanova in the semifinals on Saturday.

In the other match of the day, Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) showed a similar level of dominance against Matovic Milena of Serbia. Both the boxers played the game of patience at first, but it was Arundhati who took the charge as she initiated multiple attacks, winning the first round with ease.

Arundhati continued her momentum in the second round while being defensively solid in the third, blocking multiple desperate attacking attempts from the opponent to clinch a 5-0 win to qualify for the semifinals. She will face Jessica Triebeľová of Slovakia on Saturday.

Sakshi (57kg) suffered a 2-3 defeat against Mamajonova Khumorabonu of Uzbekistan to exit the tournament in the quarters. Sakshi found it hard to get into the rhythm as the Uzbek boxer took full advantage and kept her at bay throughout the first and second round. The situation did improve in the third round as Sakshi tried hard to make a comeback and succeeded to win the round but fell short from winning the bout.

Later tonight, Jugnoo (86kg) and Sagar (+92kg) will take on Uzbekistan’s Djalolov Samandar and Zokirov Jakhongir while Naveen (92kg) will be in action against Kuttybekov Abzal of Kazakhstan

Late on Wednesday, Deepak (75kg) and Naveen Kumar (92kg) entered the quarter-finals with an identical 5-0 unanimous decision win over Asankul Uulu Sultan of Kyrgyzstan and  Voisnarovic Darius of Lithuania respectively.

On Friday, seven Indian pugilists will compete in the quarter-finals. Amit Panghal (51kg) will be in action against Aldarkhishig Battulga of Mongolia, Lalit (54kg) will face Uzbekistan’s Nortojiev Khujanazar, Sachin (57kg) will take on Kapanadze Giorgi of Georgia and Rajat (67kg) will face the challenge from Ukraine’s Matiakubov Bozorboi.

Akash (71kg) will go head to head against Mckeever Eugene of Ireland, Deepak (75kg) will meet Ummatalievu Javokhir of Uzbekistan and Abhimanyu Loura (80kg) will take on China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Amit Panghal and Akash move into quarters at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 7, 2024: The commonwealth games gold medallist Amit Panghal, National champion Akash and men’s National bronze medalist Abhimanyu put up a stellar show to move into the quarter-final of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Wednesday.

Amit (51kg) had Rudyk Maksym’s challenge to tackle as he eyed his place in the quarters. The experienced campaigner quickly got into his groove and his ability to efficiently get into the attacking position was on display throughout the bout.

The first two rounds were all about taking on the opponent, while in the third round, Amit employed his defensive tactics to frustrate his Ukrainian opponent and capitalize on his errors, advancing to the quarter-finals with a dominant 5-0 unanimous decision win. Amit will face Aldarkhishig Battulga of Mongolia on Friday.

Akash (71kg) was up against Traore Makan of France. Akash started slow but soon picked up the pace as he displayed swift movement and landed a flurry of punches, surprising his opponents and gaining a significant lead. The performance continued in the second round as Akash continued to be a dominant force in the bout.

Traore did make a comeback in the third round but Akash’s exploits in the first two rounds were enough to ensure him a 3-1 win as he entered the quarter-final. Akash will now take on Mckeever Eugene of Ireland on Friday.

Abhimany Loura (80kg) showed a similar display of dominance against Monny Raphael of France. The boxer from Haryana made full use of his long reach as he delivered lethal punches for which the opponent had no answer for.

Abhimanyu grabbed the win with a 5-0 verdict and will face the Asian Games gold medallist China’s Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan in the quarter-final on Friday.

Later tonight, Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Deepak (75kg) will be in action against Voisnarovic Darius of Lithuania and Asankul Uulu Sultan of Kyrgyzstan in their round of 16 clash.

The quarter-final action will start on Thursday, Nikhat Zareen (50kg) will be up against Lkhadiri Wassila of France, Sakshi (57kg) will face Mamajonova Khumorabonu of Uzbekistan and Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) will square off against Matovic Milena of Serbia.

Jugnoo (86kg) and Sagar (+92kg) will take on Uzbekistan’s Djalolov Samandar and Zokirov Jakhongir respectively. Naveen (92kg) will also have his quarter-finals bout tomorrow depending on his round of 16 match result tonight.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Nikhat, Sakshi begin campaign with victories at 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 5, 2024:  Nikhat Zareen and Sakshi Chaudhary began their campaign with contrasting wins at the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Monday.

Nikhat was up against Mongolia’s Oyuntsetseg Yesugen in the 50kg bout. Both the boxers came with an attacking intent as they delivered powerful blows at every opportunity.

The boxers were at their attacking best and didn’t give any breathing space to each other. However, it was the reigning World Champion Nikhat who eventually triumphed with a 3-2 split decision verdict. Nikhat will now face Lkhadiri Wassila of France in her quarterfinal bout on Thursday.

Sakshi (57kg), on the other hand, outclassed Selmouni Chahira of Algeria with her swift moments and surprise attacks. She dominated the match throughout to clinch an easy 5-0 unanimous decision win to enter the quarter-finals. She will now take on Mamajonova Khumorabonu of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Preeti (54kg) fought a tough battle against Fay Niamh of Ireland. Both the pugilists had their moments in the first two rounds with Fay taking the lead early on. Preeti did make a remarkable comeback in the third round with all five judges tilting in her favour, but it wasn’t enough as she bowed out of the tournament with a 2-3 loss.

In a surprising turn of events Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) got disqualified in the third round of her pre-quarterfinal match after three warnings of excessive grappling against Ireland’s O’Rourke Aoife.

Manisha (60kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) will be in action later tonight against France’s Zidani Amina and Sonvico Emilie, respectively.  

Late on Sunday, Jugnoo (86kg) secured a hard-fought 3-2 win over Kocharian Ashot of Ukraine in the round of 16 clash. He will now face Djalolov Samandar of Uzbekistan in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

On Tuesday, three men boxers will kick start their campaign in their respective round of 16 matches. Sachin (57kg) will take on Uzbekistan’s Fayzov Khudoynazar, Vanshaj (63.5kg) will face Iran’s Habibinezhad Ali and Sagar (92+kg) will square off against Jazeviciius Jonas of Lithuania

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 30 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Akash goes down fighting on opening day of 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

Sofia, (Bulgaria), February 4, 2024: Akash Gorkha (60kg) went down fighting against Dilshod Abdumurodov of Uzbekistan on day one of the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament in Sofia, Bulgaria on Sunday.

In an intense three-round battle to secure a place in the quarterfinals, Akash began the bout aggressively, testing his opponent in the initial minutes. Dilshod showed patience throughout the bout and used counterattacks by capitalizing on Akash’s shortcomings.

The Indian pugilist came with positive intent in the second and third rounds, forcing a few decisions in his favour but it wasn’t enough as Dilshod won the bout with a 4-1 split decision.  

The national champion, Jugnoo (86kg) will be in action later tonight as he will go up against Kocharian Ashot of Ukraine in his round of 16 clash.

On Monday, all six women boxers will start the campaign with their respective round of 16 clash.

Reigning world champions Nikhat Zareen (50kg) and Lovlina Borgohain (75kg) will square off against Mongolia’s Oyuntsetseg Yesugen and Ireland’s O’Rourke Aoife, respectively. The Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti (54kg) will face Fay Niamh of Ireland.

Sakshi (57kg) will be up against Selmouni Chahira of Algeria while Manisha (60kg) will go head-to-head against Zidani Amina of France. Arundhati Choudhary (66kg), on the other hand, will commence her campaign against France’s Sonvico Emilie.  

Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (51kg) will kick off his campaign in a round of 16 clash against Ukraine’s Rudyk Maksym on Wednesday.

Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg) qualified for the semis after getting a bye in the quarterfinals. He will take on Khenoussi Kamel of Algeria on Saturday to secure a place in the finals.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions and is witnessing the participation of over 300 pugilists from 27 countries.

by Abhishek Shukla

Nikhat and Lovlina to spearhead India’s challenge at 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament

New Delhi, February 3, 2024:Reigning world champions Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain are set to lead Indian challenge as the Boxing Federation of India named 19-member squad for the 75th Strandja Memorial Tournament to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from February 3 to February 11.

The Strandja Memorial Tournament is one of Europe’s oldest international sports competitions. With the intense competition in presence of around 300 boxers from 30 countries, the tournament will be a great preparation for the Paris Olympics.

Besides Nikhat (50kg) and Lovlina (75kg), Asian Games bronze medallist Preeti (54kg), World Championships bronze medallist Manisha (60kg), Asian Championships bronze medallist Sakshi (57kg) and national champion Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) are also included in the squad to compete in the women’s section of the prestigious tournament.

The men’s squad, on the other hand, consists of the 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Panghal (51kg) along with the other national champions including Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg), Lalit (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash Gorkha (60kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Jugnoo (86kg).

Vanshaj (63.5kg), Abhimanyu Loura (80kg), Naveen Kumar (92kg) and Sagar (92+kg) are the other four Indian male boxers who are also part of the squad.

The Indian pugilists finished with eight medals, including three silver and five bronze, in the last edition of the tournament held in 2023.

The draw ceremony will take place later tonight.

Indian Squad:

Men: Barun Singh Shagolshem (48kg), Amit (51kg), Lalit (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash Ramesh Gorkha (60kg), Vanshaj (63.5kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Abhimanyu Loura (80kg), Jugnoo (86kg), Naveen Kumar (92kg), Sagar (92+kg).

Women: Nikhat Zareen (50kg), Preeti (54kg), Sakshi (57kg), Manisha (60kg), Arundhati Choudhary (66kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg).

by Abhishek Shukla

BFI’s REC Open Talent Hunt Programme a big opportunity for boxers to make an impact in the national scene, says BFI Secretary General Kalita

New Delhi, January 11, 2024: With an aim to discover and nurture India’s next boxing heroes, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) along with REC Limited, leading Maharatna Company under the Ministry of Power, are organising the Western REC Open Talent Hunt Programme at the Army Sports Institute in Pune.

The open tournaments, which aim to provide a much-need platform to boxers from across the country, witnessed 16 boxers from Maharashtra winning the titles in the junior and sub-junior categories. The competition for the elite and youth categories will take place from January 12 to 19.

This championship is part of the four open preliminary tournaments that the boxing federation has planned to organise in all four corners of the country for elite, youth, junior and sub-junior categories for both men and women boxers.

These are open tournaments and anyone can participate and get themselves enrolled to showcase their skills.

“Boxing Federation of India and REC are committed to the growth of Indian boxing and this REC Open Talent Hunt Programme is a significant step to identify and nurture budding boxers from across the country. The programme is open to any boxers who possess the skills and have potential. It is a big opportunity for boxers to make an impact in the national scene. Through this program, BFI and REC also aim to promote the sport in every corner of the country and increase the participation and exposure for the game,” stated Hemanta Kumar Kalita, Secretary General, Boxing Federation of India.

In addition, boxers will also have the chance to win a wild card entry for national camps, presenting them with a unique opportunity to train and compete at the highest level under the guidance of experienced coaches and mentors as well as to represent the country.

The boxers, in their respective categories, can participate in all four open tournaments and the top performers will compete in the combined final.   Furthermore, the winners will be invited to participate in the pruning trials for inclusion in the BFI’s national camps, creating a pathway for talents to make a direct cut and get a shot to play for the country.

The Northern Open Talent Hunt was held at SAI NCOE in Rohtak in September last year while Southern Open Talent Hunt and Eastern Open Talent Hunt are scheduled to be staged at the Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bangalore (January 28 to February 13) and Sarusajai Sports Complex in Guwahati (February 28 to March 15) respectively.

by Abhishek Shukla

Saweety, Jaismine clinch gold at the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships; Railway crowned champions

Greater Noida, December 28, 2023: The reigning world champion Saweety Boora (81kg) and 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine (60kg) punched their way to the title in the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) continued their dominance in the tournament to secure their fourth team championship title in a row with eight medals that included five gold, one silver and two bronze. Member of Parliament from Gautam Buddh Nagar Dr Mahesh Sharma gave away the medals to the boxers in the presence of Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh and other officials.

With three gold medals, three silver and a bronze, Haryana secured the second position while All India Police (AIP) finished third with a total of six medals, including one gold medal, two silver and three bronze, at the prestigious tournament which was organised by the Boxing Federation of India.

Saweety, representing Haryana, looked too strong against Lalfakmawii Ralte in the 81kg category as the boxer from Mizoram hardly posed a threat to her title defence. Saweety unleashed a flurry of punches to secure a comfortable 5-0 win.

However, it wasn’t as easy for Jaismine representing Services Sports Control Board (SSCB). Punjab pugilist Simranjit Kaur Baatth took the bout down to the wire before it was declared 4-3 by the judges in favour of Jaismine.

Jaismine was later adjudged Best Boxer in the championship and Team Uttar Pradesh were given the Fair Play award. While UP’s Sonia won the Best Challenger award, Lalita of Rajasthan walked away as the Best Promising boxer.

Out of the six RSPB boxers who entered the final, five returned with gold medals for their team.

Anamika, the 50kg boxer from RSPB who had to settle for a silver last year, improved the colour of her medal in this edition with 5-0 victory over Haryana’s Kalpana.

Soon after Jyoti registered a facile 5-0 win over Shvinder Kaur Sidhu of AIP to bag the second medal for RSPB. Shiksha contesting for title in the 54kg weight category outclassed Sonia of Uttar Pradesh 5-0 for RSPB’s third medal.

Silver medallist from 2016 World Championships Sonia Lather spent some tough time inside the ring against SSCB’s Sakshi before claiming a close 4-3 verdict in her favour for 57kg category gold. RSPB’s defending champion Nupur retained her crown beating Haryana’s Ritika 5-0 in the 81+kg category.

It was only Nandini, RSPB’s 75kg boxer, who had to settle for a silver after she lost the bout to 2020 Tokyo Olympian Pooja Rani of Haryana 0-5 in a one-sided encounter.

Prachi joined Saweety and Pooja as Haryana’s third gold medallist after she registered a 5-0 victory over All India Police’s Sonu in the 63kg category.

In a battle between two Youth World Champions, Services Sports Control Board’s Arundhati Choudhary got the better of Ankushita Boro of Assam claiming a 5-0 victory margin. It was the second gold medal of SSCB in the tournament which witnessed thrilling competition in the presence of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories.

by Abhishek Shukla

Six RSPB boxers eye title at the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 27, 2023: The Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) was on track to walk away with six gold medals at the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships held at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

In the semifinals held on Tuesday, Anamika (50kg), Jyoti (52kg), Shiksha (54kg), Sonia Lather (57kg), Nandini (75kg) and Nupur (81+kg) stormed into the final of the tournament.

Anamika, last year’s runner-up in the 50kg category, will take on Haryana’s Kalpana to improve her medal at the competition. In the semi-finals, Anamika got the better of Manipur’s Maibam Rosemary Chanu with a referee stopped contest decision in the second round. While Kalpana decimated her opponent Ekta Saroj of Punjab 5-0.

In the 52kg bout, the referee had to yet again step in to stop the contest when Assam’s Bhupali Hazarika could not match Jyoti’s flurry of punches. Jyoti now faces Shvinder Kaur Sidhu in the summit clash after the All India Police (AIP) pugilist forced Maharashtra’s Simran Verma abandon the bout in Round 3.

For 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine of Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) Menka Devi of Himachal Pradesh was no match as she marched on with 5-0 victory in the 60kg category. On the other hand, Simranjit Kaur Baatth also scored 5-0 win to set up title clash with Jaismine.

In the 63kg category, AIP’s Sonu continued her run to the final after she scored 5-0 win over Uttar Pradesh’s Rinky Sharma. Sonu will take on Haryana’s Prachi whose fight against Telangana’s Niharika Gonella earned her a 5-0 verdict.

Ankushita Boro, the Youth World Champion, thundered her way into the 66kg final with 5-0 verdict over Himachal Pradesh’s Deepika. Services Sports Control Board’s Arundhati Choudhary will be waiting for Boro in the final clash after defeating Nagaland’s Sanju 5-0.

Assam’s Bhagyabati Kachari stood no match for Saweety Boora of Haryana in the 81kg weight category. Saweety, the 2023 World Championship gold medallist, faced little challenge from her opponent as she won 5-0. Saweety, last year’s gold medallist in the same category will look to retain her title when she clashed with Mizoram’s Lalfakmawii Ralte, who defeated AIP’s Sushma 4-1.

Defending Heavyweight champion Nupur, who had an easy 5-0 outing against Elura Borgohain, will be all prepared to repeat her last year’s performance against Haryana’s Ritikia. The Haryana boxer impressed the judges against Monika to enter the final.

The prestigious tournament, organized by the Boxing Federation of India, has witnessed the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories.

by Abhishek Shukla

Manju, Sonia shine as eight boxers from RSPB storm into semifinals of 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 26, 2023: Led by Manju Rani (48kg) and Sonia Lather (57kg), eight boxers from the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) stormed into the semifinals of the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships held at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

Besides Manju and Sonia, Anamika (50kg), Jyoti (52kg), Shiksha (54kg), Anupama (70kg), Nandini (75kg), Nupur (81+kg) have guaranteed medals for the RSPB. In the 48kg bout, RSPB’s Manju Rani displayed dominance over Delhi’s Sanjana, claiming a 5-0 verdict from the judges. Manju will face All India Police’s (AIP) Minakshi in the semis.

Sonia Lather of RSPB, the 2016 World Championship silver medallist, set up her semifinal clash with Punjab’s Mandeep Kaur after defeating Vinakshi Dhota of Himachal Pradesh 5-2. Meanwhile, Mandeep secured a 4-1 victory over AIP’s Preeti to book her place in the last four.

In another match, 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine of Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) scored an RSC victory over Maharashtra’s Poonam Kaithwas in the 60kg category to reach the semifinals where she faces Menka Devi of Himachal Pradesh. Menka secured a 4-1 quarterfinal victory over Tamil Nadu’s PS Girija.

In the 63kg category, AIP’s Sonu impressed the judges to claim a 5-2 verdict in her favour against 2022 Senior National Championship winner Shashi Chopra. Sonu will take on Uttar Pradesh’s Rinky Sharma, who defeated Himachal Pradesh’s Muskan Rana 5-0 to reach the last four.

Youth World Champion Ankushita Boro registered a 5-0 victory over RSPB’s Anjali Tushir in the 66kg category. Boro’s semifinal opponent, Deepika from Himachal Pradesh, also had an easy outing against UP’s Rekha, securing a 0-5 victory.

Haryana’s Saweety Boora continued her dominance in the 81kg weight category. Facing Maharashtra’s Saie Davkhar, the 2023 World Championship gold medallist dominated her opponent to the extent that the referee had to stop the contest. In another 81kg bout, Assam’s Bhagyabati Kachari weighed so heavy on her opponent Saitejaswini Maineni from Andhra Pradesh that resulted in Referee Stopped Contest verdict, setting up a semifinal challenge against Saweety.

The prestigious tournament, organized by the Boxing Federation of India, has witnessed the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories. The finals are scheduled to be held on Wednesday.

by Abhishek Shukla

Manju Rani, Sakshi storm into quarters at 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 25, 2023: The 2019 World championship silver medalist Manju Rani (48kg) and two-time youth world champion Sakshi (57kg) maintained their impressive form by advancing to the quarterfinals on day four of the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

Representing the Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB), Manju Rani showcased her experience and skills against Guddi of Chandigarh as she secured a 5-0 victory. The pugilist is now set to face Sanjana of Delhi in the quarterfinals on Monday

.In another matchup, Sakshi of SSCB faced Telangana’s Refa Mohid in a round-of-16 bout. Sakshi’s aggressive approach and hard-hitting punches were too difficult to handle for Refa which resulted in a referee stopping the contest in Sakshi’s favour in round one. Sakshi will go head-to-head against Aarti Mehra of Chandigarh in the quarterfinals.

In other significant bouts, the 2022 Senior national champion Shashi Chopra(63kg) went up against Aarti Dariyal of Uttarakhand. Shashi displayed her prowess as she secured the victory with a unanimous decision and moved into the last eight of the tournament. Shashi will face Sonu of All India Police for a spot in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, in the 66kg match, Ankushita Boro was up against Mizoram’s Vanlalhriatpuii. Ankushita dominated the proceedings throughout and ultimately won the bout comfortably with a 5-0 score. She will face Anjali Tushir of RSPB in the quartfinals.

The ongoing prestigious tournament, organised by the Boxing Federation of India, has been witnessing the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories. The finals will be played on Wednesday.

by Abhishek Shukla

Jaismine, Arundhati ease into quarters at 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 24, 2023: The 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Jaismine (60kg) and former youth world champion Arundhati Choudhary (66kg) registered victories on the third day to enter the quarter-finals of the onoging 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

Representing SSCB, Jaismine showcased her experience as she secured a commanding 5-0 victory over Thongam Kunjarani Devi of Manipur in the round of 16 bout. Jaismine will now face Poonam Kaithwas of Maharashtra in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the former youth world champion Arundhati went head to head against Amita of All India Police. Arundhati’s skillset and power-packed punches were on display as she secured a 5-0 victory in the bout. The boxer will be now up against Komalpreet Kaur of Punjab in the quarterfinals.

In other significant bouts, Sakshi (57kg) of SSCB faced Jyoti of Delhi in the round of 32 match. The match was closely contested until Sakshi unleashed a flurry of punches, ultimately winning the bout as the referee stopped the contest in the third round. She will face off against Refa Mohid of Telangana in the round of 16.

Haryana’s Saweety Boora (81kg) went up against Kanishka of UP in an exciting contest. The 2023 World Championship gold medalist displayed her prowess as she defeated her opponent with the referee stopping the contest in round 3. She will face Saie Davkhar of Maharashtra in the quarterfinals.

The ongoing prestigious tournament, organised by the Boxing Federation of India, has been witnessing the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories. The finals will be played on Wednesday.

by Abhishek Shukla

World champion Saweety Boora, Pooja Rani advance at 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships

Greater Noida, December 23, 2023: The reigning world champion Saweety Boora and two-time Asian Championships gold medallist Pooja Rani entered the round-of-16 at the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships with contrasting victories on the second day at the GBU Indoor Stadium in Greater Noida.

While Saweety faced a tough challenge from Alfiya of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) before securing a 4-1 win in the 81kg match, Tokyo Olympian Pooja dominated the proceedings against Renu of Nagaland in 75kg bout as she completed a commanding 5-0 victory.

Besides Saweety and Pooja, the 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun (60kg) and Saneh (70kg) were the other boxers from Haryana to clinch victories and enter the Last-16 stage.Meanwhile, Nupur of RSPB went head to head against Himanshi Antil of Delhi in her 81+kg round-of-16 match. Demonstrating swift and aggressive boxing, Nupur wasted no time in securing the victory in the first round with Referee Stopping the Contest (RSC) verdict. Nupur will be up against Monica Sahun of Uttarakhand in the quarter-finals.

The second day also witnessed domination from Uttar Pradesh boxers as four registered convincing wins in their respective matches. While Aprajita Mani (57kg) and Rinky Sharma (63kg) beat Maharashtra’s Aarya Bartakke (5-2) and Tamil Nadu’s V Monisha (5-0) respectively, Rekha (66kg) and Deepika (75k) notched up RSC wins against their respective opponents Pooja Biswas of Telangana and Odisha’s Sunita Jena.

The ongoing prestigious tournament, organised by the Boxing Federation of India, has been witnessing the participation of more than 300 boxers competing in 12 categories. The finals will be played on Wednesday.

by Abhishek Shukla

Women’s National Boxing C’ships: RSPB’s Sonia Lather, Tamil Nadu’s S Kalaivani make winning start

Greater Noida, December 22, 2023: The 2016 World Championships silver medallist Sonia Lather of Railway Sports Promotion Board (RSPB) and Tamil Nadu’s S Kalaivani started their campaigns with dominating victories on the opening day of the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships in Greater Noida.
Sonia started the bout aggressively against Mahi Lama of Madhya Pradesh in the 57kg opening round match before securing a comfortable 5-0 win.
Kalaivani, last edition’s silver medallist, also proved too strong for Milano Mj of Kerala in the 48kg match. Kalaivani’s relentless attack forced the referee to stop the contest in the third round and declare her the winner.
Kalaivani will now square off against Haryana’s Gitika in the next round, who beat Meraj Begum of Telangana by referee stopping the contest in round 1 (RSC) win.
Rinku (52kg) and Tannu (57kg) were the other boxers from Haryana to register victories and progress into the round of 16.
Meanwhile, the 2021 Asian Youth Championships silver medallist Nivedita Karki (48kg) of Uttarakhand dominated Veronica Sohshang of Meghalaya to secure Referee Stopping the Contest (RSC) win in round 2.
The reigning world champion Saweety Boora (81kg), 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Manisha (60kg) and Tokyo Olympian Pooja Rani (75kg) will begin their campaigns on the second day of the prestigious tournament which is organised by the Boxing Federation of India.
The ongoing tournament has been witnessing over 300 boxers competing across 12 weight categories for top honours. The finals will be played on December 27.

by Abhishek Shukla

Saweety Boora aims to defend her crown as 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships kicks off today

Greater Noida, December 21, 2023: All eyes will be on Saweety Boora, the 2023 World Championship gold medallist and reigning national champion in the 81kg category, as the 7th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championships 2023 kick off from December 21 at the GBU Indoor Stadium, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

The competition, organised by Boxing Federation of India, scheduled to be held from December 21-27, will feature over 300 boxers from 35 units competing across 12 weight categories for top honours.

Hailing from Haryana, Boora, who claimed silver at the 2014 World Championships in the Light Heavyweight category, has also bagged gold (2022), silver (2015), and bronze (2021) at the Asian Championships. She aims to defend her crown in the category.

The 7th edition of the Elite Women’s Nationals will see the likes of Pooja Rani, a 2020 Tokyo Olympian in the 75kg category, and Haryana’s Manisha Moun, the 2022 World Championship bronze medallist in the 60kg category, facing stiff competition from Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine of Services Sports Control Board (SSCB) in the same category. Additionally, two Youth World Champions, Arundhati (SSCB) and Ankushita Boro (Assam), will contend for top honours in the 66kg category.

In the previous edition, the Railway Sports Promotion Board secured 10 medals and is eager to replicate their success in this tournament.

by Abhishek Shukla

Junior World Boxing C’ships: Payal, Nisha and Akansha strike gold as India end impressive campaign with 17 medals

New Delhi, December 5,2023: Young boxers Payal, Nisha and Akansha put up dominating performances to emerge champions at the 2023 IBA Junior World Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia as India concluded the impressive campaign with 17 medals.

Payal handed India its first gold at the prestigious championships when she outclassed the local favourite Petrosyan Heghine of Armenia by unanimous decision in the girls 48kg final.

Later, Asian youth champions Nisha and Akansha lived up to the expectations as they extended their dream runs to clinch gold medals in style. Nisha (52kg) and Akansha (70kg) thrashed Abdullaoeva Farinoz of Tajikistan and Taimazova Elizaveta of Russia respectively with an identical 5-0 margin.

Meanwhile, three other girls in action on the final day — Vini (57kg), Shrushti (63kg) and Megha (80kg) signed off with silver medals after suffering defeats in their respective gold medal matches.

In the boys’ section, Sahil (75kg) and Hemant (80+kg) added silver medals to the Indian tally after going down 0-5 in their respective finals. Jatin (54kg) also put up a strong fight against Tulebek Nurassyl of Kazakhstan before losing 1-4 in a thrilling match.

India was the dominant force in the prestigious competition as the 26-member squad secured 17 medals including three gold, nine silver and five bronze medals. Overall, 12 Indians qualified for the finals which was more than any other country in this edition.

The girls boxers’ gold medal tally of three was the joint second best with Kazakhstan, only behind Russia’s 4 gold medals.

India’s Medallists:

Girls:

(Gold) Payal (48kg), Nisha (52kg) and Akansha (70kg);

(Silver)  Amisha (54kg), Vini (57kg), Shrushti Sathe (63kg) Megha (80kg), Prachi Tokas (80+kg);

(Bronze) Neha Lunthi (46kg), Pari (50kg), Nidhi Dhull (66kg) and Kritika (75kg)

Boys:

(Silver) Jatin (54kg), Sahil (75kg), Hardik Panwar (80kg) Hemant Sangwan (80+kg);

(Bronze) Sikandar (48kg)

by Abhishek Shukla

Junior World Boxing C’Ships: India’s Amisha, Prachi and Hardik sign off with silver

New Delhi, December 4, 2023: Indian boxers Hardik Panwar (80kg) , Amisha (54kg) and Prachi Tokas (80+kg) bagged silver medals after suffering defeats in their respective finals of the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships in Yerevan, Armenia.

The Asian junior champion Hardik conceded a narrow 2-3 loss against Ashurov Bairamkhan of Russia in a closely fought contest. Both the boxers looked aggressive in the bout, grabbing every opportunity to score points and keeping the spectators on the edge of their seats. However, the Russian did enough to tilt the result in his favour.

Meanwhile, in the girls’ section, Amisha and Prachi suffered identical 0-5 losses in their respective final bouts. While Amisha lost to Ayazhan Sydyk of Kazakhstan, Prachi gave her all against the tough opponent two-time Asian junior champion Sobirakhon Shakhobiddinova from Uzbekistan but fell short.

India have already secured 17 medals, including five bronze, in the on-going prestigious tournament.

Payal (48kg), Nisha (52kg), Vini (57kg), Shrushti (63kg), Akansha (70kg), Megha (80kg), Jatin (54kg), Sahil (75kg) and Hemant (80+kg) are the country’s nine pugilists who will fight for gold medals on the final day of the competition.

Neha (46kg), Nidhi (66kg), Pari (50kg), Kritika (75kg) and Sikandar (48kg) have secured bronze medals earlier after concluding their campaigns in the semi-finals.

by Abhishek Shukla

12 Indian boxers storm into the finals at the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships

New Delhi, December 2,2023: Junior boxers continued their fine form at the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships as 12 of them entered the finals after a stunning show in Yerevan, Armenia.

Amisha (54kg) and Payal (48kg) started the day on a winning note for team India against Trigos Bucur Rocio of Romania and Bibolsynkyzy Sila of Kazakhstan, both winning the bout by a unanimous 5-0 win.

Prachi Tokas (80+kg) put up a dominant show over Osipova Mariia of Russia, forcing the referee to stop the contest in the first round itself to grab the win. Megha (80kg) on the other hand showed a similar display of strength and power to clinch a referee stopping the contest win in round three against Tseng An Chi of Chinese Taipei.

Vini (57kg) Akansha (70kg) and Shrushti (63kg) outperformed their opponents to grab an identical 5-0 unanimous decision win to enter the finals. Vini was up against Kantzari Ouriana of Greece while Akansha and Shrushti faced Mcdonagh Mary of Ireland and K Alina of Kazakhstan respectively.

Nisha (52kg) struggled after the initial dominance in round one but soon fought back to grab an impressive 4-1 win over Russia’s Sikstus Diana.

The boys put on a solid outing as four out of five boxers in action got the win. The two heavyweights Hardik Panwar (80kg) and Hemant Sangwan (80+kg) entered the finals with a comfortable 5-0 unanimous decision win against R Andrei of Belarus and K Tigran of Armenia.

Jatin (54kg) took on K Pavel of Russia who for a moment looked like a more dominant boxer but Jatin soon took control of the game and got a 4-1 win in his favour..

Sahil faced a tough challenge against D Vladimir of Russia as both the boxers were quick in predicting each other’s moves and counter attack. The bout looked like it could go anywhere but ultimately Sahil got the win with a 3-2 split decision verdict.

Neha (46kg), Nidhi (66kg), Pari (50kg), Kritika (75kg) and Sikandar (48kg) ended their campaign with a bronze medal.

The finals will be played on December 3 and December 4, 2023

by Abhishek Shukla

Men’s National Boxing Championships: Shiva Thapa, Amit Panghal, and Sagar storm into the finals

New Delhi, December 1, 2023: Six-time Asian Championships medalist Shiva Thapa (63.5kg), Amit Panghal (51kg) and  Sagar (92+kg) maintained their impressive form to enter the final of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in Shillong after registering contrasting victories.

Representing Assam, Shiva showcased his experience as he secured a commanding victory over Harivansh Tawari of Maharashtra with a perfect score of 5-0. The previous edition’s gold medalist will face Vanshaj of SSCB (Services Sports Control Board) in the final.

On the other hand, Amit Panghal who represents SSCB went head to head against Ankit of RSPB (Railway Sports Promotion Board). The bout was closely contested throughout but the highly experienced 28-year-old maintained his composure in the crucial moments of the game to get past his opponent in a 5-2 split decision win. The 2019 World Championships silver medalist will now face Anshul Punia of Chandigarh in the final.

In another gripping encounter, Sagar, representing RSPB faced Vishal Kumar of Delhi in his semi-final bout. Sagar’s skillset and power-packed punches were on full display as he dominated the match, securing the victory with a 5-0 score. The 2022 Commonwealth games silver medalist will face off against Jaipal Singh of Punjab in the gold medal match. 

Adding to the winning streak, the 2021 Asian champion, Sanjeet (92kg) from SSCB got the better of his opponent Vicky of AIP (All India Police). Sanjeet was at the top of his game and dominated the proceedings to grab the win by unanimous decision. Sanjeet will be up against Naveen Kumar of Haryana in the final. 

The other SSCB boxers that qualified for the final include Barun Singh (48kg), Pawan (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash (60kg), Vanshaj (63.5kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Lakshya (80kg) and Jugnoo (86kg).

SSCB have secured 12 medals to lead the medal tally at the ongoing 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships.

by Abhishek Shukla

Junior World Boxing Championships: Indian boxers extend dominance to confirm eight more medals

New Delhi, December 1,2023: Reigning Asian Junior champions Nisha (52kg) and Akansha (70kg) put up a solid show to confirm medals along with six other Indian pugilists on seventh day of the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships 2023 in Yerevan, Armenia.

Indian girls once again led the proceedings with their dominant show as all five boxers in action won their respective matches to enter the semis. Akansha (70kg) began the day on an aggressive note before her opponent Kurbonboeva Rayhona of Uzbekistan unsettled the Indian pugilist with her counter attack. However, Akansha ultimately grabbed the win with a 4-1 split decision verdict.

Nisha (52kg), on the other hand, proved too strong against Grace Conway of Ireland as she was declared winner by a unanimous 5-0 decision. Shrushti recorded a comfortable win in 63kg after the referee stopped the contest in round two against Mariia Kazaova of Russia.  

Kritika (75kg) put up an equally dominant show and didn’t allow her opponent Melendez Sanchez of Mexico to settle down before winning the bout by referee stopping the contest in round one.

Vini (57kg) entered the semis after the opponent Nunez Naiomi of Trinidad and Tobago gave her a walkover.

Meanwhile, it was a mixed day in the boys section for the country as three of the five competing boxers made it to the final four. Hemant Sangwan (80+kg) and Sikandar (48kg) outperformed their opponents Bachevvski Roselin of Bulgaria and Urmanov Ramzidin of Kyrgyzstan respectively to win the bout with an identical 5-0 decision.

In the 75kg quarter-finals, Sahil had to work hard against Ruslan Esanov of Uzbekistan, but the Indian grabbed a 3-2 split decision win, showcasing impressive quick movements and better decision making.

M Kabiraj Singh (63kg) and Rahul Kundu (70kg) suffered defeats in the Quarterfinals.

With the addition of eight more medals, India’s total medal count now stands at 17 as Megha (80kg) had already confirmed the medal after getting bye in the initial two rounds.

17 Indian boxers, including 12 girls, will be in action in the semifinals.

by Abhishek Shukla

IBA Junior World Boxing Championships 2023: 8 junior boxers confirm medals as they cruise into the semis

New Delhi, November 30,2023: As many as eight junior boxers secured a medal after a dominating show in the quarterfinals on day six of the IBA Junior World Boxing Championships 2023.

Extending their phenomenal run at the tournament, six out of the seven competing junior girls boxers made their way into the semifinals. The two gold medalists from the Asian junior boxing championships Pari (50kg) & Nidhi (66kg) won their quarterfinals bout with an identical unanimous 5-0 win against Muller Micaela of Romania & Kao Chun Ai of Chinese Taipei respectively.

Payal (48kg) scored a comfortable 5-0 win over Doherty Lauren of Ireland while Amisha (54kg) outperformed Kim Jiae of South Korea for a unanimous decision win. The Asian junior silver medalist Neha Lunthi (46kg) was tested by Hizouskaya Anhelina of Belarus but Neha emerged victorious with a 4-1 split decision win.

Prachi (54kg), on the other hand, had to work hard against Kazakhstan’s Seiitkhankyzyc Panar. She struggled in the first round and took her time to gauge her opponent but came back strongly in the last two rounds to secure a 3-2 split verdict.

Joyshree Devi (60kg) was the lone Indian woman to end up on the losing side as she lost 1-4 against Russia ’s Leonova Kira.

Meanwhile, in the boys section, two out of four boxers managed to progress into the medal rounds. Asian junior gold medalist Hardik Panwar (80kg) & Jatin (54kg) were on top of their game as they moved to the semifinals with a unanimous decision win over Park Damhyeon of South Korea & Mushkudiani Davic of Georgia respectively.

While Brijesh Tamta (46kg) & Divash Katare (50kg) were the two boxers who faced defeat in the quarterfinals.

Five junior boys & girl boxers will play their quarterfinals bout late on Thursday.

The semi-finals will take place on December 2 and the finals are set to be played on December 3-4.

by Abhishek Shukla

National Boxing Championships: 12 SSCB boxers secure semifinal spotsNational Boxing Championships:

New Delhi, November 30, 2023: The quarterfinal stage of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships witnessed remarkable performances from Amit Panghal, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist (51kg), and 2021 Asian Champion Sanjeet (92kg) as they secured their places in the semifinals with commanding victories in the quarterfinals along with 10 other boxers representing SSCB on day five of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in Shillong.

Amit Panghal, who represents SSCB faced Mohammad Aarif of Jammu and Kashmir in his quarterfinals bout. Amit demonstrated his experience, dominated the proceedings throughout and ultimately won the bout comfortably in a unanimous decision. Amit will next face Ankit of RSPB in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Asian Champion, Sanjeet from SSCB went head to head against 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Naman Tanwar of RSPB in the 92kg quarter-final. Sanjeet was at the top of his game as he controlled the bout and played from a distance, landing hard punches throughout. He continued the momentum and grabbed the win with a unanimous decision. Sanjeet will take on All India Police’s (AIP) Vicky in the semifinals.

The other 10 SSCB boxers who qualified for the semifinals include Barun Singh (48kg), Pawan (54kg), Sachin (57kg), Akash (60kg), Vanshaj (63.5kg), Rajat (67kg), Akash (71kg), Deepak (75kg), Lakshya (80kg), Jugnoo (86kg).

In other significant bouts, representing Assam, the six-time Asian Championships medalist Shiva Thapa, showcased his renowned skill set and power packed punches, dominating the quarterfinal match against Shashank Pradhan of Delhi. He secured a commanding 5-0 victory and will square off against Harivansh Tawari of Maharashtra in the semifinals.

2022 Commonwealth Games silver medallist Sagar (92+kg), who represents RSPB, was up against Navjot Singh of Chandigarh. He started the bout with an aggressive approach and landed a flurry of hard hitting punches in the first round only that led to the referee stopping the contest. He will fight it out against Vishal Kumar of Delhi in the last four stages.

by Abhishek Shukla

Shiva Thapa & Amit Panghal storm into quarters at the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships

New Delhi, November 29, 2023: Shiva Thapa, a six-time Asian Championships medalist (63.5kg), and Amit Panghal, the 2019 World Championships silver medalist (51kg), maintained their impressive form by securing victories and advancing to the quarterfinals on day four of the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championships in Shillong.

Hailing from Assam, Shiva Thapa demonstrated his prowess with a commanding victory over Santhosh HK from Karnataka, achieving a flawless score of 5-0. The previous editions gold medalist will now face Shashank Pradhan of Delhi in the quarterfinals.

Representing SSCB, Amit Panghal faced Punjab’s Jayshandeep Singh in the round of 16. Despite Jayshandeep’s efforts to put up a strong fight, Amit emerged victorious with a scoreline of 4-1. Amit is set to face Mohammad Aarif of Jammu and Kashmir in the quarterfinals.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Asian Champion, Sanjeet, faced off against Sawan Gill of Chandigarh. Sanjeet’s skill set and power packed punches were on full display as he dominated the match, securing a commanding victory with a 5-0 score. Sanjeet, representing SSCB, will face Naman Tanwar of RSPB in the quarterfinals.

In a contrasting matchup, Ashish Kumar from Himachal Pradesh went head-to-head against Nitish Kumar from Chandigarh. Demonstrating swift and aggressive boxing, Ashish wasted no time, securing a first-round knockout victory against his opponent. The Tokyo Olympian is now set to face Lakshya of SSCB in the quarterfinals.

A total of over 350 boxers across 13 weight categories are participating in the championships.