Will Nikhat and Olympic Medallist Lovlina Shine at the Elite Women's Boxing Tournament in Hyderabad?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nikhat Zareen and Lovlina Borgohain among top contenders.
- Event spans from June 27 to July 1.
- Participants from various states and units.
- Gold and silver medalists gain entry to the national camp.
- Focus on building the future of women's boxing in India.
Hyderabad (Telangana), June 26 (NationPress) At the upcoming Elite Women’s Boxing Tournament, two-time World Champion Nikhat Zareen, bronze medallist from the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Lovlina Borgohain, and former World Youth Champion Ankushita Boro are set to compete among India's leading female boxers for a chance at national camp placement. This prestigious event will be held at the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, Telangana, from June 27 to July 1.
The tournament is organized by the Telangana Boxing Federation, affiliated with the Boxing Federation of India and the Sports Authority of Telangana. It will see participation from boxers representing 15 units, including the top 12 teams from the 8th Elite Women’s Nationals—Railways, Haryana, All India Police, Services, Punjab, Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Sikkim—as well as the host state of Telangana, the Combined SAI National Centre of Excellence team, and the TOPS Core & Development squad.
Prominent athletes competing include World Championships bronze medallist Manisha Moun, Olympian Preeti, World Youth Champion Arundhati Chaudhary, along with over 100 other top contenders. The pugilists will compete across ten weight categories, with gold and silver medalists in each category earning a place in the elite national camp located in Patiala.
“This Elite Women’s National Boxing Tournament is designed to enhance the competitive framework of Indian boxing. It offers our top athletes competitive exposure while also providing a platform for emerging boxers to challenge seasoned competitors, learn from them, and progress towards high-performance training available at the National Camps. This tournament serves not only as an entry into the elite national camp but also as a means to build bench strength and uncover new talent. We are optimistic that this new domestic structure will empower Indian boxing and sustain its momentum on the international stage,” expressed BFI president and Chairman of the Interim Committee, Ajay Singh.
Each team may enter a maximum of 10 boxers eligible for those born between January 1, 1985, and December 31, 2006. The championships will follow the World Boxing Technical & Competitions Rules, where each bout consists of three rounds lasting three minutes each, with one minute of rest in between. A ten-point scoring system will be utilized, and the review system will not be applied.
Indian women's boxers celebrated a notable achievement at the Thailand Open 2025, securing a silver and five bronze medals. Building on this success, the Boxing Federation of India is now focusing on upcoming major international competitions, including the World Boxing Cup finale later this year.