Asian Boxing C'ships: Vishvanath, Chandrika spearhead India's strong U-19 & U-23 squad
New Delhi, July 1
India will field a balanced mix of proven performers and emerging talent at the U-19 & U-23 Asian Boxing Championships, with reigning Asian champion Vishvanath Suresh and World Boxing Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari leading the country's challenge at the continental event, which begins on July 3 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) on Wednesday announced its squads across both age groups, with the tournament expected to provide an important platform for the nation's young boxers to gain international exposure and continue their progression towards the senior ranks.
Vishvanath, the reigning Asian champion in the men's U-23 50kg category, headlines a formidable men's squad that also features Ganga (55kg), Sagar Jakhar (60kg), Vanshaj (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Neeraj (75kg), Aryan Malik (80kg), Rocky Chaudhary (85kg), Hemant Sangwan (90kg) and Ishan Kataria (+90kg).
The women's U-23 team includes Nidhi (48kg), Tanu (51kg), Nisha (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Nikita Chand (60kg), Kajal (65kg), Shivani (70kg), Muskan (75kg), Naina (80kg) and Priyanka (+80kg).
In the U-19 competition, Futures Cup gold medallist Chandrika Bhoresh Pujari will spearhead the girls' campaign in the 51kg category. She is joined by Gunjan (48kg), Chirom Joyshree Devi (54kg), Prachi (57kg), Chahat (60kg), Vanshika (65kg), Lakshu (70kg), Anshika (75kg), Megha Sheokand (80kg) and Prachi Tokas (+80kg).
The boys' U-19 squad comprises Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei (50kg), Aditya (55kg), Sikander (60kg), Mausam Suhag (65kg), Prashant (70kg), Devendra Chaudhary (75kg), Lokesh (80kg), Sagar (85kg), Shubham Rajput (90kg) and Loven Gulia (+90kg).
BFI president Ajay Singh described the championships as an important stage in the development of India's next generation of boxers and reiterated the federation's long-term focus on strengthening the talent pipeline.
"The U-19 and U-23 Asian Championships are crucial stepping stones for our young boxers as they transition to the elite level. We are seeing strong depth across weight categories, and this group represents the future of Indian boxing. Our focus remains on building consistency and giving our athletes the exposure needed to succeed on the international stage," he said.
India heads into the championships on the back of encouraging performances at recent continental and global events, with increasing depth across multiple weight divisions. The selected boxers have been training at the national camp, where preparations have centred on technical refinement, tactical execution and physical conditioning ahead of the tournament.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is promising! India is finally building a proper boxing culture. The variety of weight classes covered shows we're thinking long-term. My only worry is whether these camps are giving them enough international sparring before the tournament. Still, fingers crossed for our young champions! 🥊
Happy to see so many new faces alongside the established ones. But I hope the BFI is also focusing on mental conditioning and sports psychology for these youngsters – international tournaments can be overwhelming. The technical training is one thing, but handling pressure is another. Hope our coaches have that covered.
This is such an exciting time for Indian women's boxing! Chandrika, Nidhi, Tanu, and the entire U-19 girls' team – they're all incredibly talented. I've been following some of these boxers since the national championships, and their improvement is amazing. Jakarta, here we come! 🏆✨
India's boxing development pathway is looking very structured now. The U-19s being included alongside U-23s for this continental event gives them invaluable early exposure. Looking forward to seeing how some of these names
J James A from Australia Impressive squad depth from India! The men's U-23 team especially looks solid across all weight categories. Vishvanath and Chandrika are names to watch. Australian boxing could learn from India's systematic approach to developing young talent. Good luck to all boxers! We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.