NEW DELHI: India’s young boxing stars, fresh from their record-breaking campaign at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, were honoured in New Delhi on Saturday for their outstanding performances in Manama. The felicitation ceremony was attended by Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs and former Sports Minister Shri Kiren Rijiju as the Chief Guest, along with Boxing Federation of India President Shri Ajay Singh and Secretary General Shri Pramod Kumar, who lauded the athletes for their remarkable achievements.
Record-breaking Medal Haul
The Indian contingent produced its best ever show at the continental stage, clinching a total of seven medals — four gold, two silver and one bronze — the highest tally by any Indian discipline at the Games. Gold medallists included Khushi Chand (46kg), Ahaana Sharma (50kg), Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari (54kg) and Anshika (+80kg), while Harnoor Kaur (66kg) and Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam (50kg) won silver, and Anant Deshmukh (66kg) added a bronze.
Congratulating the champions, Shri Kiren Rijiju hailed their performances as a sign of India’s growing sporting dominance. “It is a great joy to witness these champions who have made the nation proud,” he said. “Boxing in Asia is among the toughest in the world, and winning medals here is as prestigious as doing so globally. India’s sporting journey is advancing steadily, but we must continue working to ensure the socio-economic security of our athletes so they can focus solely on excellence.”
He also praised BFI President Shri Ajay Singh for his leadership and the federation’s structured development model. “Boxing in India has grown immensely under his guidance,” he added, highlighting the impact of initiatives such as Khelo India and Fit India in nurturing grassroots talent.
Pride and Promise for Indian Boxing
India finished No. 1 in women’s boxing with four gold medals, a feat that underlined the nation’s growing depth and dominance across all levels of the sport.
BFI President Shri Ajay Singh expressed pride in the team’s performance, calling it a landmark moment for Indian boxing. “Winning seven medals, including four golds by our women and one by our men, is a matter of great pride,” he said. “Out of 13 gold medals at the tournament, five went to India, which is an extraordinary achievement. Hearing the national anthem five times on foreign soil was truly special. These young boxers are the future of Indian boxing, and with the facilities and support we are providing, they will soon bring Olympic glory to the country.”
The performance in Bahrain marked another major step forward for India’s youth boxing programme, reflecting both the strength of its current talent pool and the bright promise of its future champions.
