Can Amit Phangal and Manju Rani Secure Their Spots at BFI Cup 2025?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Amit Phangal and Manju Rani showcased exceptional talent in the BFI Cup 2025.
- The tournament is an important platform for emerging boxers.
- Gold and silver medallists secure a place in the Elite National Camp.
- Strong performances from other athletes highlight the depth of competition.
- The event runs from October 1–7 in Chennai.
Chennai, Oct 2 (NationPress) Asian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Amit Phangal (Services) advanced smoothly to the next round of the Elite Men’s competition at the BFI Cup 2025 on Thursday, following a commanding 5:0 victory over Punjab’s Sparsh Kumar in this prestigious event organized by the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).
In parallel, the Elite Women’s category showcased impressive performances from former World Championships silver medallist Manju Rani (Railways), alongside Youth World Champions Ankushita Boro (Assam) and Arundhati Choudary (Services), as the action unfolded at the Vellore Institute of Technology.
The BFI Cup 2025, running from October 1–7 in Chennai, aims to provide a stage for emerging boxers and established athletes to test their skills. The tournament features competitions for both Elite Men and Women across 10 weight categories each, adhering to World Boxing standards. Gold and silver medallists will earn a place in the Elite National Camp.
Amit’s victory highlighted another impressive showing for the Services team. His teammates, S. Vishvanath (50kg) and Preet Malik (65kg)—both of whom participated in the Asian U-22 Championships in Thailand—also secured commanding 5:0 wins, propelling them into the next rounds. Additionally, Ravi Kumar (Railways, 75kg) and C. Lucas (Tamil Nadu, 50kg) contributed to the day’s excitement with RSC victories, showcasing the competitive spirit of this early tournament.
The women’s competition featured seasoned athletes demonstrating their skills. Manju Rani showcased her prowess with a 5:0 decision over Punjab’s Kashish Mehta in the 48kg category, while Arundhati (70kg) outperformed Haryana’s Manisha in a unanimous decision. Assam’s Ankushita swiftly earned an RSC victory in the opening round against Minnat Zarine.
Boxers from state units and boards that ranked in the Top 8 at the Elite Nationals are competing at the BFI Cup, along with participants from SAI NCOE and the host state Tamil Nadu. The lineup also includes athletes from the last two Elite National Championships, Indian team members from the 2024 and 2025 Asian U-22 Championships, and medalists from international events since 2022.
Further enriching the competition, medalists from the Goa and Uttarakhand National Games and the 6th Youth Nationals are also in action. All participants have been routed through official state units and boards.