Winning medals at the National stage for the last couple of years has proved to be a major ‘growth booster’ for the Olympic discipline of Boxing in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the last year alone,J&K has won as many as three medals across different age groups, which speaks volume of exceptional talent and continued growth of the most competitive game of Boxing in the Union Territory.
This was stated by the retired senior officer of the J&K Sports Department and a coach, who presently holds the top position of general secretary in the J&K Amateur Boxing Association (JKABA), Rajan Sharma.
“The exceptional results are the outcome of collective efforts on part of the boxers, association and the Government in the manner that everyone have played their due role. In the last year (2025) alone, J&K has won three medals, including gold and silver, at the National stage,” said Sharma.
“J&K boxers from border district of Poonch, Srinagar and Jammu have already achieved a lot, but this time Rajouri and Udhampur have excelled at the National stage. Gold by young sub-junior boxer, Mohd Yasser of Rajouri; Silver by Bareena Tariq of Srinagar and now Bronze by young 19 years old, Deepak Singh Katoch from district Udhampur speak volumes about the growth of the game,” explained Rajan.
The game of boxing has never disappointed at the National stage and medals haul have improved during past couple of years in view of the growing infrastructure and grassroots trainers.
“Since the Khelo India Centreshave proved to be a major boost for the game with five such training facilitiesat Rajouri, Samba, Kathua, Ganderbal and Bandipore. The infrastructure growthis on the rise with Jammu, Srinagar, Poonch and Kathua have established boxingrings, while setting up of such facility at Rajouri and Samba is underway andwill be ready for use soon,” informed retired Divisional Sports Officer of theJKSC.
Since there exists adequate infrastructure and technical support from the Government, the Boxing Association has missed no chance to expose the talent at the National stage despite financial constraints.
“Our boxers, across all age groups, have never missed a chance to represent J&K at the National level events. Talent in boxing never go waste and there is hardly any score for favour and discrimination, the reason being Boxing is an individual game and one has to prove himself on the ring only,” mentioned Rajan Sharma.
The district Ramban,which, otherwise have little record of sports excellence, has emerged as boxing hub for women. “A number of women boxers from district Ramban, in the recent past, have represented J&K at different National level events, courtesy a privately run boxing academy in the town,” disclosed Sharma.
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