India has moved up to the third position in the latest world rankings of the International Boxing Association (IBA). Indian boxers collected 36,300 ranking points, taking the country past top boxing ‘powerhouses’ like the US and Cuba, who are currently ranked fourth and ninth respectively in the rankings. Kazakhstan (48,100) is the country occupying the top ranking followed by Uzbekistan (37,600).
Indian boxing has seen phenomenal growth in recent years with teams consistently featuring in the top five nations at global tournaments such as the World Championships, the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games. Indian boxers won 16 medals in the last two Commonwealth Games. Since 2008, he has won 140 medals in top international tournaments. And since 2016, Indian boxers have won 16 elite world championship medals in both men’s and women’s categories.
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) also hosted several major tournaments in the country and will now host the prestigious Women’s World Boxing Championship for the third time in the country from March 15 to 26. The future of this sport in the country is bright which can be gauged from the total of 22 medals at the junior and youth level in the last two Youth World Championships. BFI President Ajay Singh said in a media release, “It is a milestone moment for India, BFI and all sports lovers. Indian boxing has made a big jump in the last few years from 44th position to 3rd position.
