India’s next generation of boxing talent is set to step onto the international stage as the country’s youth boxing team prepares to compete at the World Boxing Futures Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in Bangkok from March 8 to March 15.
The tournament will bring together some of the world’s most promising young boxers, offering them a crucial platform to gain international exposure and compete against elite opponents within their age group. For India’s rising stars, the competition represents an important milestone in their development, as they continue building experience on the global stage.
The Indian contingent will depart from New Delhi on March 6 with a 10-member squad, evenly split across the men’s and women’s categories. All athletes will compete in Youth Olympic weight divisions, making the event an essential stepping stone in the preparation pathway toward future editions of the Youth Olympic Games.
A Key Platform for Emerging Talent
The World Boxing Futures Cup has increasingly become one of the most significant developmental competitions in international youth boxing. Organized under the aegis of World Boxing, the event allows emerging athletes to gain experience in structured international competition early in their careers.
For India, the tournament offers an opportunity not only to measure its youth talent against global standards but also to evaluate the effectiveness of the country’s grassroots and developmental boxing programs.
With bouts scheduled at the Indoor Stadium Huamark, the competition will feature a week-long schedule beginning with preliminary rounds on March 8. Quarterfinal and semifinal bouts will follow in the middle of the week, before the championship finals take place on March 15.
Balanced Indian Squad Across Divisions
India will field a balanced lineup across both the men’s and women’s divisions, with athletes competing in five weight categories in each section.
The women’s squad includes:
- Gunjan (48kg)
- Chandrika Bhoreshi Pujari (51kg)
- Joyshree Devi Chirom (54kg)
- Radhamani Longjam (57kg)
- Prachi (60kg)
Meanwhile, the men’s team will feature:
- Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam (50kg)
- Udham Singh Raghav (55kg)
- Sahil Duhan (60kg)
- Aman Siwach (65kg)
- Priyansh Sehrawat (70kg)
The squad reflects a mix of technically skilled boxers and physically strong competitors who have already shown promise in domestic competitions and national training camps.
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One of the defining aspects of the Futures Cup is its alignment with Youth Olympic weight categories, which provides athletes a valuable opportunity to gain experience under the same competitive conditions they will encounter at global youth multi-sport events.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Ajay Singh, president of the Boxing Federation of India, highlighted the importance of such competitions in shaping the next generation of Indian boxers.
He noted that the Futures Cup offers a critical platform for young athletes to test themselves against high-quality international competition. Competing in Youth Olympic categories, he added, will allow Indian boxers to gain essential experience as they prepare for major youth events in the coming years.
According to Singh, exposure to global competition at this stage of development plays a vital role in helping young athletes adapt to different boxing styles, build confidence in high-pressure bouts, and refine their tactical approach inside the ring.
India’s youth boxing program has been steadily gaining momentum in recent years.
The country’s young boxers delivered an outstanding performance at the Asian Youth Games held in Bahrain last year. The Indian contingent secured seven medals, including four gold, two silver, and one bronze, marking the nation’s best-ever performance in youth boxing at the continental level.
That success reflected the growing depth in India’s youth boxing pipeline, with several athletes demonstrating both technical maturity and competitive resilience. The Futures Cup now presents another opportunity for emerging Indian boxers to translate their domestic and continental success into strong performances against a broader international field.
Focus on Experience and Development
While medals remain an important objective, the primary goal for India’s young athletes in Bangkok will be gaining valuable match experience against diverse opponents. International tournaments often expose boxers to different tactical styles, ranging from the aggressive Eastern European approach to the highly technical styles seen in Asian boxing circuits. Such exposure plays a crucial role in shaping well-rounded fighters capable of adapting to various competitive environments.
For coaches and selectors, the event will also serve as a valuable assessment opportunity as they evaluate athletes’ progress and readiness for higher levels of competition.
As the Indian youth team prepares to compete in Bangkok, expectations will center on both performance and development. The Futures Cup offers young athletes a chance to take another step toward elite-level boxing, while also reinforcing India’s reputation as a rising force in the global boxing landscape.
For these ten young fighters, the tournament represents more than just another competition it is an opportunity to showcase their talent on the world stage and continue building the foundation for future success in international boxing.
