Shillong, November 24 : The stage is set and the boxing ring is ready to welcome top men’s boxing talent from around India to Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, for the 7th Elite Men’s National Boxing Championship. The championship will take place from November 25th to December 1st at the SAI Indoor Hall on the NEHU campus.
The event is being organized by the Meghalaya Boxing Association (MBA) and Boxing Federation of India (BFI) and is sponsored by the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya. The opening ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 25th, at 10:30 AM and will be graced by the Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, Shakliar Warjri, as the Chief Guest. Hemanta Kumar Kalita, Secretary General of the Boxing Federation of India, will be the Guest of Honour.
The championship will feature over 300 boxers from across India competing in 13 different weight categories. The boxers will represent states, Union territories, and the military. The venue has been transformed to accommodate two professional boxing rings and has been a hive of activity as pugilists and officials complete their registration and other formalities.
Among the top boxers who will be participating in the championship are two-time Olympian and six-time Asian Championship medalist Shiva Thapa and 2018 Asian Games champion Amit Panghal. Meghalaya has also named nine young boxers to represent the state at the championship.
“It’s an opportunity for the young boxers to showcase their talent,” said Torak Kharpran, a renowned boxing coach and former coach of the Indian boxing contingent at the recent Asian Games in China. “It’s one of the preparation events for the Olympic Games. There is a second round of qualifiers coming in Italy for the Olympics and boxers will want to do well here in order to step up to that level.”
The championship is not only a prestigious event for the boxers but also a great opportunity for Meghalaya to host such a major sporting event. The event is expected to inspire the youth of Meghalaya to pursue their dreams in sports. Organising competitions like these also play a big role in helping Meghalaya prepare to host the 39th National Games, which it is set to do in the future.
