Youngster from Sikkim won silver medal in 48kg weight class at Women’s National Championships and as a star in the making

Growing up in the picturesque hill town of Namchi in South Sikkim, Yasika Rai loved playing football in her school. Little did she know her destiny would take her to a combat sport—boxing.

“I used to play football in my school team as a left winger. There was a small ground in our school and one day boxing coaches of a nearby academy noticed me. They called me to join their academy,” recalls Yasika — now a silver medallist at the Senior Elite Women’s National Championship in 48kg.

Mukesh Rai and Subash Tamang, coaches of Namchi District Boxing Association, were in hunt for young talents in boxing. “We were looking for youngsters to take up boxing. We saw Yasika playing football. She had good footwork and speed and it was enough for us to call her into boxing.”

At first Yasika’s parents hesitated in sending their young daughter for boxing. However, the coaches succeeded in allaying their fears. Yasika, too, took a liking to the sport and was soon throwing punches at opponents.

“I started boxing in 2019. The shift from football to boxing was initially difficult, but I started liking the sport. I used to get bruises, which I still do as I am also training with boys. But I find boxing a stress reliever. It helps me calm down,” says the 21-years-old.

Subash says she is gifted. “You see her speed and footwork and you can say that she is meant for boxing. She is very dedicated and stubborn.”

Indeed, Yasika impressed with her display at the just concluded women’s national championships in Greater Noida. Her deft movements, aggression, and fluent punches marked her out as a future star. She showed courage while competing against established boxers from Punjab, Maharashtra, Manipur, and Railways. In the final, she lost to Minakshi of All India Police but did enough to get her maiden call-up to the national camp.

“I competed in two Nationals before but did not progress beyond the third round. I have trained hard. Whatever my coaches tell me, I follow and try to implement it in the ring,” says Yasika, a third-year student of Physical Education Honours at Government College, Kamrang, Namchi.

“She did not show much result at the youth level. Then she won gold at the North East Olympic Games in 2022. That motivated her and since then she has been giving excellent results. Now that she will be in the national camp, I am hoping she will get good guidance and make it to the India team,” says Subash.

Yasika Rai profile:
Weight division: 48kg
Silver: Elite Women’s National Championships 2025
Gold & Best Boxer Award – North East Olympic Games 2022
Silver– East Zone Championship 2022
Silver– North East Olympic Games 2024
Sikkim state champion for six consecutive times.