Bhiwani’s daughters pack a new punch

Haryana’s Bhiwani has long been famous for churning our renowned boxers. Traditionally, it has been known as a hub of men’s boxing — with many of its male pugilists winning accolades across India, and the world. However, it is the women boxers of the district who are now shifting the paradigm, with many female pugilists dominating the Indian boxing circle.

Recent achievement in the field of boxing by girls from Bhiwani has leapfrogged the district to the centre stage of women’s boxing in the country.

Coach Sanjay Sheoran, a Bhim awardee, said a growing number of talented girls were now stepping into the ring, joining the district’s academies with promise and purpose.

“Bhiwani has been famed as the home turf of Olympics medallist Vijender Kumar, and Olympians Akhil Kumar, Vikas Krishan, Jai Bhagwan and Jitender Kumar. Now, as the sport gains momentum among girls of the district, it is carving out its name as a gender-neutral boxing haven,” he said. And the results say it all: The World Boxing Cup, held in Kazakhstan from June 30 to July 6, added six medals in women’s boxing to India’s kitty. All medal winners are from Haryana, with five of them belonging to Bhiwani.

From Bhiwani, Sakshi (women’s 54-kg weight category), Jasmine Lamboria (women’s 57-kg category) and Nupur Sheoran (women’s 80 -kg category) bagged gold medals; while Pooja Rani (women’s 80-kg category) bagged a silver, and Sanju clinched a bronze. Rohtak’s Meenakshi, too, brought pride to the country, securing a silver in the women’s 48-kg category.

“Welcoming winners with great pomp and grandeur has become a tradition for Bhiwani. On their arrival after the achievement, the women medallists were escorted in a victory procession from Rohtak Gate to the town,” he said.

In the junior category, too, Bhiwani is brimming with talented women boxers.

Diya Sharma, who recently won the gold medal in the 63-kg category at the Junior State Boxing Championship (held in Rohtak from June 4 to 7), was one such rising star, Sheoran said, adding that she was named the best boxer at the national-level games in 2024, and had clinched a silver medal at the Junior Asian Championship.

Bhiwani Boxing Club president Kamal Singh Pradhan said the district was making headlines for the meteoric rise of its women boxers, who were shining on national and international platforms. Women boxers from Bhiwani had won about 150 medals at national and international events in the last five years, Pradhan added.

Haryana Olympics Association general secretary Ravinder Pannu said the Indian contingent set to participate in the World Boxing Championship in Liverpool, United Kingdom, from September 4 to 14 was expected to return with a good haul of medals. Notably, seven sportspersons of the 10-member contingent are from Haryana — with most of them trained in Bhiwani’s rings.

“It is a matter of pride for us that seven out of the ten Indian women boxers set to participate in the championship belong to Haryana. The contingent comprises Meenakshi (48-kg), Sakshi (54-kg), Jasmine Lamboria (57-kg), Sanju Khatri (60-kg), Neeraj Phogat (65-kg), Pooja Rani (80-kg), and Nupur Sheoran (80 kg) from Haryana; and Nikhat Zareen (51-kg), Sanamacha Chanu (70-kg), and Lovlina Borgohain (75-kg) from other states,” he said.

wuw