India’s top boxers who missed the National Championships will eye national camp call-up at the tournament in Telangana
Two-time world champion Nikhat Zareen will return to ring in Elite Women Boxing Tournament starting Friday. Pic: BFI
Our Correspondent
World champion Nikhat Zareen and Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain are set to return to the ring at the Elite Women Boxing Tournament starting in Hyderabad on Friday.
The duo has not competed since the Paris Olympics, where both exited early. They also missed the Elite Women’s National Championships in March due to different reasons. Lovlina was unable to participate because the Assam Boxing Association did not send an official team, due to an ongoing conflict with the Boxing Federation of India (BFI). Nikhat, meanwhile, withdrew due to a minor injury. She later trained with Uzbekistan’s elite women’s team in Tashkent from May 8 to 23, while Lovlina has continued her training in Assam.
Since neither competed at the Nationals, they were not selected for the current national camp. This tournament offers them, along with other top boxers who missed out due to administrative issues, a way back into the elite squad.
“Several of our top boxers couldn’t participate in the Nationals as many states didn’t send official teams. As a result, we don’t have the best talent at the ongoing national camp. This tournament will give them a chance to return,” said a coach.
Other big names in fray include Paris Olympian Preeti Saipawar, world championships medallist Manisha Moun, and world youth champion Arundhati Choudhary. Over 100 boxers are expected to compete in the meet at Saroor Nagar Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, Telangana.
Twelve teams are participating, including Railways, Haryana, All India Police, Services, Punjab, Chandigarh, host Telangana, the Combined SAI National Centre of Excellence team, and the TOPS Core & Development Squad.
The gold and silver medallists in each of the 10 weight categories will earn spots at the elite national camp in Patiala.
“This tournament is not just a pathway into the national camp but it’s also a way to build bench strength and discover emerging talent,” said Ajay Singh, Chairman of the BFI Interim Committee.
Nikhat, a two-time world champion, has recently been training at the Army Sports Institute in Pune. At the Paris Olympics, she lost in the round of 16 to Chinese world No. 1 Wu Yu. After recovering from a minor knee injury, she resumed training earlier this year. She is aiming to compete at the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool in September.
The newly formed international body, World Boxing, has announced a competition calendar that includes four World Boxing Cup events, culminating in the season finals in New Delhi this November. It will be an for Indian boxers to shine in front of a home crowd.
