COLORADO, Nov 4: India’s boxing team achieved remarkable success at the inaugural U-19 World Championships in Colorado, USA, amassing a total of 17 medals, which includes four golds. The event highlighted the talents of young Indian boxers, particularly the female athletes, who collectively brought home a notable 10 medals.
Key performances included Parthavi Grewal, who won the women’s 65kg final with a commanding 5-0 victory against Aaliyah Hoppema of the Netherlands. In the women’s +80kg category, Vanshika Goswami captured her gold by defeating Germany’s Victoria Gatt via a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) just one minute and 37 seconds into the match.
Hemant Sangwan earned India’s only male gold medal by winning a 4-1 split decision over Rishon Sims from the USA in the 90kg category.
While many competitors excelled, Nisha (51kg), Supriya Devi Thokchom (54kg), and Kritika Wasan (80kg) concluded their tournaments with silver medals after narrowly losing in their respective finals.
This impressive medal tally underscores the dedication and skill developed through India’s boxing framework, especially via the Khelo India initiative. Among the 11 Khelo India athletes contributing to the medal count, eight train at the Sports Authority of India’s (SAI) National Centers of Excellence (NCOE). The NCOE Rohtak particularly shone, with its boxers securing a total of 10 medals. Krisha Verma from NCOE Aurangabad also made her mark by winning gold in the women’s 75kg category.
The Indian squad, comprising 19 boxers (9 men and 10 women), had 12 athletes reach the finals, signaling a bright future for the sport in the country. With aspirations to secure a stronger foothold in international boxing, India is also looking toward the potential inclusion of the sport in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, further igniting passion among young boxers nationwide.
