By Sahil Kohli
Following her gold medal victory at the women’s National Boxing Championships, Asian Games medalist Pooja Rani expressed joy over securing her ninth national-level gold award and highlighted the intense competitiveness within Indian boxing. This achievement took place in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India, on March 27 as reported by ANI.
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Pooja Rani from Haryana, who was crowned the champion at 75kg last year, moved up to 80kg and once again prevented Lalfakmawi Ralte from All India Police (AIP) from winning a gold medal.
Talking to ANI, Pooja mentioned that the game presented certain challenges for her since it involved an opposing clash between strength and velocity.
“I secured my ninth national gold medal today, which is incredibly satisfying. The competition was particularly challenging; it involved both strength and speed. Despite facing several difficulties during the match, everything came together well overall,” she stated.
When discussing her participation in national-level competitions, Pooja mentioned that the immense talent in India makes winning a gold at this level feel equivalent to achieving an international-standard victory.
“In discussions about India, the various states boast exceptional boxers. Winning a gold here is akin to earning an international medal. Each state houses several skilled fighters—approximately 3 to 4 proficient boxers per state. The outcome often hinges on your draw. In my weight class, I faced around three or four challenging opponents, each fight being difficult. Competition within India is fierce,” she remarked.
Pooja mentioned that she plans to compete in the 70-kilogram category starting with the upcoming major competition.
“I remain within my current weight class. My weight fluctuates between 75-80 kilograms. I plan to compete in the 70 kg category starting with the Commonwealth Games in 2026,” he stated at the conclusion.
The railways firmly asserted their dominance over the 8th Elite Women’s National Boxing Championship, retaining their championship title impressively by securing a total of nine medals. Notably, all five of their finalists won gold medals at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex on Thursday. Haryana secured the second position with six medals, featuring two golds along with several silvers. Meanwhile, All India Police (AIP) claimed third place with seven medals, which included one gold medal.
During this weeklong competition conducted under the World Boxing Technical & Competition Rules, 188 fighters representing 24 state teams battled it out in ten different weight classes. In total, Railways won five gold medals along with four bronze ones. Coming in second place, Haryana earned two golds, three silver medals, and one bronze medal. Additionally, the All India Police took home one gold, four silver awards, and two bronze prizes.
In addition, Boxing Federation of India Chairman Ajay Singh offered a cash reward of Rs 50,000 for outstanding performances at the championship. Jaismine Lamboria from the Services Sports Control Board claimed the title of Best Boxer, and Simranjit Kaur from Punjab earned the distinction of Best Challenger. The award for Best Referee went to Laxmi, and Rekha Swami received recognition as the Best Judge.
Under Leading Railways’ leadership, Anamika and Nupur successfully retained their national championships. As the current light flyweight titleholder, Anamika secured a unanimous decision against Haryana’s Tamanna, whereas heavyweight champion Nupur dominated All India Police’s Kiran to earn consecutive titles. Last year’s 57kg gold medalist, Sonia Lather, showcased her adaptability by competing in the 60kg category and won with a close 4-1 split verdict over AIP’s Sanju. Sanamacha Chanu maintained her impressive streak with a convincing 5-2 triumph over Haryana’s Saneh, while Muskan brought an end to Punjab’s Anjali’s aspirations via a first-round knockout.
The services team executed a impeccable campaign, with Jasmine Lamboria and Sakshi maintaining a unblemished winning streak within their division. Jasmine, who was dominant from start to finish, put forth yet another outstanding display, decisively defeating Haryana’s Priya with a score of 5-0 to claim the lightweight title. Meanwhile, Sakshi swiftly overpowered Abha Singh, achieving an RSC victory in round one, thus concluding a faultless campaign for the services squad.
Pooja Rani from Haryana moved up to the 80kg category this year and prevented Lalfakmawi Ralte of AIP from securing a gold medal for the second time in a row. In the 60-65kg class, Neeraj Phogat bolstered Haryana’s scorecard with an impressive 4:3 victory against Simranjit Kaur. Meanwhile, Minakshi secured a gold medal for All India Police when she successfully defended her title, ending the competition with a decisive 5:0 triumph over Yasika Rai from Sikkim.
Olympic and World Championships bronze medalist Nishant Dev joined the event, motivating the young boxers as they geared up to leave their imprint on the national scene.
Final Results
45-48 kg – Gold: Minakshi (AIP), Silver: Yasika Rai (SIK), Bronze: Sanjana (DEL), Rajni (RSPB)
48-51 kg – Gold: Anamika (RSPB), Silver: Tamanna (HAR), Bronze: Kalaivani S (TN), Sunita (RAJ)
51-54 kg – Gold: Sakshi (SSCB), Silver: Abha Singh (AIP), Bronze: Savita (RSPB), Aarti Dhariyal (UTK)
54-57 kg – Gold: Jaismine (USSR), Silver: Priya (HAR), Bronze: Vishakha Varitya (PUN), Poonam (RSPB)
57-60 kg category — Gold: Sonia Lather (RSPB), Silver: Sanju (AIP), Bronze: Poonam Kaithwas (MAH), Aparajita Mani (UP)
60-65kg – Gold: Neeraj Phogat (HAR), Silver: Simranjit Kaur (PUN), Bronze: Alena Devi (MAN), Sonu (AIP)
65-70 kg category – Gold: Sanamacha Chanu (RSPB), Silver: Saneh (HAR), Bronze: Imroz Khan (AIP), Lalita (RAJ)
70-75 kg – Gold: Muskan (RSPB), Silver: Anjali (PUN), Bronze: Shweta (RAJ), Anju (CHD)
75-80 kg – Gold: Pooja Rani (HAR), Silver: Lalfakmawi Ralte (AIP), Bronze: Anupama (RSPB), Pranshu Rathore (CHD)
80+kg – Gold: Nupur (RSPB), Silver: Kiran (AIP), Bronze: Ipsita Vikram (UP), Priyanka Tewatia (HAR). (ANI)
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