Jaismine, Arundhati Choudhary lead 14-member India boxing squad at Tammer 2026
Synopsis
Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary headline a 14-member Indian boxing squad at the 46th Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland. The BFI is using the event to give ring time to boxers ranked third in Olympic weight categories — a quiet but deliberate push to build India's competitive depth ahead of future Olympic cycles.
Key Takeaways
Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary , both Commonwealth Games gold medallists, lead India's 14-member boxing squad at the 46th Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland .
Competition runs from 30 October to 1 November 2026 , with finals on 1 November .
The squad covers 7 women's and 7 men's weight categories, competing under World Boxing rules .
BFI president Ajay Singh said the focus is on building depth across Olympic weight categories by giving more boxers international exposure.
Selection targets boxers ranked third in Olympic weight-category bench strength and top athletes in Olympic categories outside the Asian Games programme.
The Tammer Tournament has been held annually since 1977 and is an established fixture on the global boxing calendar.
Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary will spearhead a 14-member Indian boxing contingent at the 46th International Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) confirmed on 28 October 2026. The selection is part of a deliberate strategy to widen India's base of internationally experienced pugilists across Olympic weight categories.
Tournament Schedule and Format
Organised by the Tampere Boxing Association, the tournament runs from 28 October to 2 November, with competitive bouts scheduled from 30 October to 1 November. Preliminary bouts are set for 30 October, semifinals on 31 October, and finals on 1 November. The competition spans 10 elite men's and seven elite women's weight categories.
India's Star Names and Selection Rationale
Jaismine will compete in the women's 57kg category, while Arundhati Choudhary is entered in the 70kg division. Beyond the headline names, the squad has been assembled to give international ring time to boxers ranked third in India's Olympic weight-category bench strength, as well as top-ranked athletes in Olympic categories that fall outside the Asian Games programme — a targeted approach to building competitive depth.
BFI Chief on the Exposure Strategy
BFI president Ajay Singh underlined the developmental purpose of the campaign. 'The Tammer Tournament provides our boxers with an important opportunity to gain international exposure and test themselves against quality opposition. Our focus is on building depth across Olympic weight categories and ensuring that more Indian boxers get the experience needed to compete at the highest level. Such tournaments are an important part of that process,' Singh said.
Full Squad Breakdown
The men's contingent comprises Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Hussam Uddin Mohammed (60kg), Vivek Meena (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Akshay (80kg), Bobin Chauhan (90kg), and Chetan Choudhary (90+kg).
The women's team features Tanu (51kg), Aarti Dhariyal (54kg), Jaismine (57kg), Disha Vijay Patil (60kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), and Imroz Khan (75kg).
Historical Significance of the Tammer Tournament
First held in 1977, the Tammer Tournament has been an annual fixture on the international boxing calendar for nearly five decades, attracting competitive fields from across the globe. The Indian contingent will compete under World Boxing rules, gaining valuable ring time against overseas opponents. The BFI's deployment of a 14-strong squad signals a sustained commitment to building depth well beyond the elite tier, with an eye on future Olympic cycles.
Point of View
Relying on a handful of star names, which leaves the country exposed whenever those athletes are injured or unavailable. The Tammer assignment is a low-profile but structurally important intervention. Whether it translates into meaningful improvement will depend on how consistently the BFI repeats such exposure across a season and whether it links tournament data to selection decisions for higher-stakes competitions.
NationPress
28 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is leading India's boxing squad at the 2026 Tammer Tournament?
Commonwealth Games gold medallists Jaismine (57kg) and Arundhati Choudhary (70kg) are the headline names in India's 14-member squad at the 46th International Tammer Tournament in Tampere, Finland. The BFI announced the squad on 28 October 2026.
When and where is the 46th Tammer Tournament taking place?
The tournament is being held in Tampere, Finland, from 28 October to 2 November 2026. Competitive bouts run from 30 October to 1 November, with finals scheduled for 1 November.
Why has the BFI sent a 14-member squad to the Tammer Tournament?
The BFI is using the tournament to provide international exposure to boxers ranked third in India's Olympic weight-category bench strength and to top-ranked athletes in Olympic categories outside the Asian Games programme. The goal is to widen the pool of internationally experienced Indian boxers.
Who are the other boxers in India's squad for the Tammer Tournament?
The men's team includes Pawan Bartwal (55kg), Hussam Uddin Mohammed (60kg), Vivek Meena (65kg), Hitesh (70kg), Akshay (80kg), Bobin Chauhan (90kg), and Chetan Choudhary (90+kg). The women's contingent features Tanu (51kg), Aarti Dhariyal (54kg), Disha Vijay Patil (60kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), and Imroz Khan (75kg), alongside Jaismine and Arundhati Choudhary.
What is the Tammer Tournament and why does it matter for Indian boxing?
The Tammer Tournament is an annual international boxing competition held in Tampere, Finland, since 1977, making it one of the longest-running events on the global boxing calendar. For India, it serves as a key platform for gaining competitive ring time under World Boxing rules against quality international opposition, supporting the BFI's long-term Olympic preparation strategy.
