The National Games 2025 is in full swing as athletes from across India have gathered in the beautiful hill state of Uttarakhand to push their limits of endurance and stamina.
The sports of boxing saw several big names shining in the ring while few budding athletes also left their mark.
Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain won gold in the women’s 75kg boxing event at the National Games while fellow Olympian Shiva Thapa bagged silver in the men’s 63.5kg category.
Assam’s Lovlina, who was boxing for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympics, beat Chandigarh’s Pranshu Rathore 5-0 by unanimous decision to mark a triumphant return to the ring.
This was her second National Games gold medal after winning in the same weight category in the 2022 National Games held in Gujarat.
In the men’s 63.5kg category final, Shiva Thapa, who represented India at the London 2012 Olympics, had to settle for silver after suffering a narrow 4-3 defeat against Vanshaj of Services Sports Central Board.
This is an upgrade for Thapa, a six-time Asian champion and Arjuna Awardee, who had won the bronze medal at the 2022 edition of the Games.
Meanwhile, junior world champion Ankushita Boro scripted history by beating Uttarakhand’s Kajal 5-0 and winning the 66kg welterweight event.
This was her third consecutive gold medal at the National Games having also stood on top of the podium in the previous two editions.
Also Read: National Games 2025 Dehradun: Sports Events, Schedule and Venue
Services’ Mandengbam Singh won his 51kg flyweight bout against Anshul Punia by a 4-1 split decision while Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Jaismine Lamboria won the women’s 60kg division after beating Haryana’s Manisha Moun 5-0.
Uttarakhand’s Nivedita Kari beat Haryana’s Kalpana 5-0 in the women’s flyweight 50kg category and Madhya Pradesh’s Divya Panwar defeated Uttar Pradesh’s Sonia Lather 4-1 in the women’s bantamweight 54kg event.
The National Games 2025 which began on January 28 will continue till February 14.
