The Chief Minister's Office of Uttarakhand announced on Tuesday, 21 July 2026 that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami felicitated three women boxers from the state at the Chief Minister's Residence in Dehradun, recognising their outstanding performances at international competitions held in July 2026.

Context

The felicitation honoured Nikita Chand and Kajal Farswan, who won silver medals at the Under-23 Asian Boxing Championship held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 3 to 15 July 2026. Nikita Chand competed in the 60 kg weight category while Kajal Farswan won her medal in the 65 kg category. A third boxer, Arti Dhariyal, was honoured for winning a gold medal in the 54 kg category at the Gold Belt Boxing Competition held in Romania from 12 to 16 July 2026.

Their coaches, Brijendra Mall and Lalit Kunwar, were also recognised at the ceremony alongside the athletes. Senior sports officials including Special Principal Secretary (Sports) Amit Sinha, Assistant Director (Sports) Sanjeev Pauri, and District Sports Officer Shabali Gurung were present at the event.

Athlete Profiles

Nikita Chand, a resident of Badalu village in Pithoragarh, is a decorated champion who previously won gold medals at the Asian Championship in 2021, 2022, and 2023. Her latest silver at the Under-23 Asians adds to a remarkable international record built over half a decade. Kajal Farswan, from Bhadeli village in Munsyari, is currently training at the National Women's Boxing Camp in Patiala. She has previously won a silver at the Under-19 ASBC Asian Championship, a bronze at the Under-23 Asian Boxing Championship, and a silver at the 38th National Games 2025.

Arti Dhariyal, a resident of Gaudihaat, Pithoragarh, won bronze medals at the Elite Women's National Boxing Championship in 2024 and 2025 and is also training at the National Women's Boxing Camp in Patiala. All three boxers hail from rural hill districts of Uttarakhand's Kumaon region, underscoring the depth of sporting talent emerging from remote communities in the state.

Policy Backdrop

Speaking at the event, CM Dhami said, 'Uttarakhand ki betiyon ne apni mehnat, pratibha aur dridh sankalp se desh aur pradesh ka gaurav badhaya hai' ('The daughters of Uttarakhand have brought glory to the country and the state through their hard work, talent, and determination'). He attributed the athletes' success to the guidance of their coaches and the support of their families, while reaffirming the state government's commitment to providing better training, facilities, and resources to sportspersons.

The Khelo India programme, launched nationally in 2017, has provided a policy framework that supports state-level training and competition pathways for boxers from states including Uttarakhand. The state has increasingly highlighted sporting talent from its hill districts as part of a broader push to expand grassroots sports infrastructure.

Stakeholders and Impact

The recognition ceremony sends a signal to young athletes in rural Uttarakhand that international achievement will receive state-level acknowledgement. Pithoragarh district has now produced multiple nationally and internationally competitive boxers, with all three honoured athletes hailing from the Kumaon region. Their training at the National Women's Boxing Camp in Patiala reflects the pipeline between state identification and national-level preparation.

For coaches Brijendra Mall and Lalit Kunwar, the public recognition is significant in a sporting ecosystem where coaching contributions often go unacknowledged. The CM's explicit mention of coaches as partners in success is consistent with a broader national push to professionalise grassroots sports coaching.

What's Next

CM Dhami expressed confidence that 'Uttarakhand ki betiyan aane wale samay mein khelon ke kshetra mein aur bhi naye kirtiman sthapit karengi' ('The daughters of Uttarakhand will set new records in sports in the times ahead'). The state government has indicated it will continue expanding sports facilities and providing targeted support to talented athletes across districts. With the Asian and world championship cycles continuing, all three boxers are expected to remain in contention for further international honours, making sustained state investment in their training a key variable to watch.