9th Men’s & Women’s National Boxing Championships to Be Held Together for the First Time in Greater Noida

The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) is set to usher in a new chapter in domestic boxing with the 9th Men’s and 9th Women’s National Boxing Championships, scheduled to be held simultaneously for the first time, from December 31, 2025, to January 6, 2026, at Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida.

The official draw ceremony on December 30 will formally kick off what is expected to be a defining event in India’s next high-performance boxing cycle.

Never before have the Elite senior men’s and women’s nationals been staged together, and the decision reflects both logistical efficiency and a growing emphasis on parity and integrated athlete development. By bringing India’s top senior boxers under one roof, BFI aims to create a consolidated competitive environment where selectors, coaches and administrators can assess the country’s elite talent at the same time.

Units from across the country will compete in ten weight categories each for men and women, strictly in line with World Boxing Technical & Competition Rules. Each state, board or institutional unit is permitted to field one boxer per weight category, with no reserve boxers allowed, placing a premium on selection quality and preparedness. Eligible boxers must be born between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 2006, ensuring the championships cater squarely to the Elite senior bracket.

All bouts will follow the global competition standard of three rounds of three minutes, with a one-minute rest interval between rounds, and will be judged using the internationally accepted 10-point must scoring system. The format ensures that performances at the Nationals remain directly comparable to international tournaments, reinforcing their importance as a feeder into the national programme.

The timing of the Championships is particularly significant. Indian boxing is coming off its most successful international campaign to date, highlighted by a record haul of 20 medals, including nine golds, at the World Boxing Cup Finals 2025, also held in Greater Noida. That performance was the culmination of a domestic structure that began with the Men’s and Women’s National Championships earlier in the year, underlining the role of the Nationals as the foundation of India’s competitive pathway.

BFI President Ajay Singh emphasised this link between grassroots performance and international success. “Strong systems are the backbone of long-term success, and the National Championships are where that system truly begins,” he said. “This stage creates opportunity, reveals talent, and gives every boxer a fair pathway into the national camp. Our recent success at the World Boxing Cup Finals proved how powerful this can be. As we prepare for the challenges ahead, these championships will be crucial in identifying and preparing the athletes who can carry our hopes forward.”

Indeed, many of India’s leading boxers on the global stage today first announced themselves at the National Championships. Sachin Siwach and Hitesh Gulia, both gold medallists at the latest World Boxing Cup Finals, were National Champions before breaking through internationally. Minakshi and Jaismine, now reigning World Champions, also used strong performances at the Nationals as springboards into the elite system. Their journeys reinforce the Championships’ reputation as the primary gateway to national camps, international exposure and long-term progression.

With the international calendar now firmly turning toward the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic cycle, the upcoming Nationals take on added importance. Strong performances in Greater Noida could define selection pathways for the next three years and shape India’s Olympic medal ambitions.

From a team perspective, Services will enter the competition as the defending Men’s National Champions, while Railways will aim to defend their Women’s Team Championship title. As always, institutional units are expected to provide stiff competition to state teams, adding further depth and intensity to the event.

As boxing rings return to Greater Noida at the close of the year, the simultaneous staging of the men’s and women’s championships promises not only high-quality competition but also a clear statement of intent: India’s boxing future will be built through unified platforms, strong domestic systems, and relentless competition at home.