Sakshi Ghanghas and Harsh Lakra are the best boxers in the Indian Youth National Championships

Photo Source: Boxing Federation of India

The Indian Youth National Championships was held for both genders in New Delhi where the top talents of the country shined in the competition while some of their future stars could not get the titles. Among India’s top women and men youth athletes Sakshi Ghanghas, Barun Singh Shagolshem, Mohammad Etash Khan and Harsh Lakra were able to win their weight classes in New Delhi.
New Delhi was the host of the 2010 Commonwealth Games and boxing returned to the city and India’s best youth athletes competed for the medals in the important competition. More than 500 boxers attended in the Indian Youth National Championships which is one of the highest number in comparison to the recent one decade.
The first gold medal of the women’s competition was acquired by 17-year-old Gorla Jyothi who met in the final of the light flyweight (48kg) with another experienced boxer, Anjali Sharma but she was able to solve that tactical mission. Haryana’s new sensation Ekta won their regional championships and following that success she was able to win her third national title. The 16-year-old boxer, who trains with Ravi Sangwan, controlled her semi-final and final contests in the Olympic flyweight (51kg).
Parveen was also born in 2000 as Ekta and she began the year with the title of the Haryana State Championships in January continued her winning path following her success over Palian Lalnunfeli in the final of the bantamweight (54kg). A superb women contest was held in the Nationals at the featherweight (57kg) where Sakshi Ghanghas met with AIBA Women’s Junior World Champion Mandeep Kaur. Haryana’s Sakshi Ghanghas was named as the Best Women Boxer in the Indian Youth National Championships in New Delhi following her 4-1 triumph against Kaur.
Mizoram’s Vanlalhiriatpuii won the Most Promising Boxer Trophy in the women part of the Indian Youth National Championships following her top performance at the lightweight (60kg) in New Delhi. Punjab’s Avneet Kaur was silver medallist in the last edition one year ago but she was able to do it better in New Delhi and won the title of the middleweight (75kg). Anupma was excellent in the last edition of the Indian Youth National Championships and she was able to defend her title following her RSC success over Parveen Kaur in the final of the light heavyweight (81kg).
The Services Sports Control Board won 4 gold medals in the Indian Men’s Youth National Championships and topped the team rankings. Haryana was the runner-up with five medals including two gold medals in the men part of the National Youth Championships while Delhi became third with one title and two bronze medals.
India has got strong boxers in the light flyweight (49kg) and their new hero could be Manipur’s Barun Singh Shagolshem who won the category. He competed at the 2015 AIBA Junior World Boxing Championships in St. Petersburg and had better punches than Ansul Punia in the final of the category. India’s defending AIBA Youth World Champion 17-year-old Sachin Siwach Singh has injured during the competition and could not win his category in New Delhi.
Ch. Wilson Singh was not the favourite at the flyweight (52kg) but the young talent was able to beat all of his rivals in New Delhi. The younger Indian hope eliminated Sudeep Yadav in the semi-final by split decision and following that strong contest he was able to win his title bout against Gurpreet Singh by large margin of difference.
ASBC Asian Confederation Youth Boxing Championships quarter-finalist Mohammad Etash Khan is one of the biggest Indian youth talent who proved amazing performance in the final of the bantamweight (56kg) against Uttarakhand’s Pawan Gurung. The 17-year-old Mohammad Etash Khan defended his throne and claimed his second gold medal in their Youth National Championships after 2016.
India’s next big future hope Ankit Khatana was quarter-finalist in the last edition of the Indian Youth National Championships in 2016 but after that performance he was able to do it better in New Delhi where he defeated Gurpinder Singh in the final of the lightweight (60kg). Manipur’s Pheiroijam Brighter Singh lost his opening bout in the 2016 Indian Youth National Championships but in his second appearance in the event he claimed the gold of the light welterweight (64kg). Singh, who will be turning to 18 in April, outscored Akash in the final.
Naveena Boora competed at the featherweight (57kg) as a junior boxer in 2015 and since then he moved up to the youth welterweight (69kg). The 17-year-old talent was too strong for Parveen Kumar in the final and has got excellent chance to return to the international level. Karan boxed at the junior lightweight (60kg) in 2015 and he reached the Top8 already at the middleweight (75kg) in the 2016 Indian Youth National Championships. The 17-year-old boxer was enough strong to win his category against Sachin in the final of the event.
Delhi’s Harsh Lakra not only defeated all of his rivals at the light heavyweight (81kg) but he won the Best Boxer Trophy in the men’s part of the championships. Harsh Lakra won the gold medal at the middleweight (75kg) in the 2016 edition one year ago and he was able to repeat that performance in his new category in New Delhi where he did his very best against Ashish Negi in the gold final.
Chandigarh’s Sawan Gill began his boxing career in 2011 and after six years of experiences in the sport he was able to win his first national title in New Delhi. The heavyweight (91kg) boxer was quicker and stronger than Himmat Singh and won the gold in the Nationals. Last year’s silver medallist national team member 17-year-old Harshpreet Sahrawat moved up to the super heavyweight (+91kg) in the recent two months and he proved he is the best Indian youth in that category now.

Winners in the Indian Youth National Championships
Women’s 48kg: Gorla Jyothi, 1999
Women’s 51kg: Ekta, 2000
Women’s 54kg: Parveen, 2000
Women’s 57kg: Sakshi Ghanghas, 2000
Women’s 60kg: Vanlalhiriatpuii, 1999
Women’s 64kg: Lalita, 2000
Women’s 69kg: Astha Pahwa, 2000
Women’s 75kg: Avneet Kaur, 1999
Women’s 81kg: Anupma, 1999
Women’s +81kg: Megha M. Mathew, 1999
Men’s 49kg: Barun Singh Shagolshem, 2000
Men’s 52kg: Ch. Wilson Singh, 2000
Men’s 56kg: Mohammad Etash Khan, 1999
Men’s 60kg: Ankit Khatana, 1999
Men’s 64kg: Pheiroijam Brighter Singh, 1999
Men’s 69kg: Naveena Boora, 1999
Men’s 75kg: Karan, 1999
Men’s 81kg: Harsh Lakra, 1999
Men’s 91kg: Sawan Gill, 1999
Men’s +91kg: Harshpreet Sahrawat, 1999