Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 congratulated three Indian Railways boxers who won medals at the World Boxing Cup held in Guiyang, China — lauding their performances as a source of inspiration for the country's youth and daughters.

Context

In his post on X, CM Dhami extended congratulations to Jyoti Gulia, who claimed the gold medal in the 48 kg category, and to Meenakshi Hooda and Prachi, who secured silver medals in the 51 kg and 57 kg categories respectively at the tournament hosted in Guiyang, the capital of China's Guizhou province.

Writing in Hindi, Dhami said: 'Aapke athak parishram, dridh sankalp aur utkrisht pradarshan ne desh ka maan badhaaya hai' ('Your tireless hard work, firm resolve, and outstanding performance have raised the honour of the nation'). He described their achievement as 'a source of inspiration for youth, especially the daughters of the country.'

Policy Backdrop

Indian Railways has operated a sports quota recruitment policy since the 1970s, offering salaried positions and dedicated training infrastructure to elite athletes. This model has enabled sportspersons from economically diverse backgrounds to sustain long-term international careers without financial uncertainty.

The Union government's Khelo India programme, launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, has further widened grassroots participation in disciplines including boxing, with a particular emphasis on encouraging girls to enter competitive sport.

Stakeholders and Impact

The three boxers — Jyoti Gulia, Meenakshi Hooda, and Prachi — are all employed by Indian Railways, underscoring how public-sector sporting infrastructure continues to produce medal-winning talent on the world stage. Their success adds to a broader pattern of steady improvement in Indian women's boxing at continental and world-level competitions.

For aspiring young athletes, particularly girls in smaller towns and states, podium finishes by Railways-employed boxers at international events serve as tangible proof that institutional support can translate into global recognition. State leaders highlighting such achievements amplifies the message of women's empowerment through sport.

What's Next

Attention will now turn to how these performances feed into India's preparations for upcoming major events, including the next World Boxing Championships and Olympic qualification bouts. Any follow-up announcements from the Uttarakhand government on athlete welfare or state-level sports schemes would build on the momentum signalled by Dhami's public acknowledgement.

The medals from Guiyang add to India's growing international boxing footprint and are likely to bolster calls for enhanced training support and competitive exposure for women boxers across the country.