BFI Announces ₹17.5 Lakh Prize Money for Medal-Winning Boxers from World Cup Legs

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The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced a cash reward of ₹17.5 lakh to honour the 17 Indian pugilists who won medals at the recent World Boxing Cup legs held in Brazil and Kazakhstan.

The incentives are structured to award ₹2 lakh for each gold, ₹1 lakh for silver, and ₹50,000 for bronze medallists, as India builds momentum ahead of the World Boxing Cup Finals, set to take place in New Delhi later this year.

This announcement aligns with India's broader preparations for two major events-the World Boxing Championships in Liverpool this September and the World Cup Finals on home turf. The national core group continues intensive training at the Patiala camp. In a development that signals India's growing stature in global boxing, China has approached BFI to explore a strategic collaboration across various levels-junior, sub-junior, and elite-potentially involving joint training camps and sparring exchanges.

Reflecting on the recent international results, BFI President-Chairman (Interim Committee), Mr Ajay Singh, lauded the athletes: "Our boxers have done the nation proud with a stellar showing on the global stage. The hard work is beginning to pay off. India's performance across the two World Cup legs has made a strong global impact-we are now ranked fifth in the world. Our presence is being noticed and respected. That China has reached out for a developmental partnership speaks volumes about the growing global recognition of Indian boxing."

"But this is only the beginning," he added. "There are many potential Mary Koms and Vijender Singhs waiting to be discovered. We must continue to identify and groom this talent to ensure success at the highest levels, including the Olympic stage."

India's medal haul from the two World Cup events stood at 17, including four gold medals. Among the standout performers were Sakshi (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), and Nupur (80+kg) from the Kazakhstan leg in Astana, while Hitesh Gulia (70kg) struck gold in Brazil. Both Hitesh and Abhinash Jamwal (65kg) emerged as consistent performers, with Hitesh bagging a gold and a silver, and Abhinash clinching two silvers.

The silver medal list featured Pooja Rani (80kg), Minakshi (48kg), Jugnoo (85kg), alongside Hitesh and Abhinash in Astana. Bronze medals were earned by Sanju (60kg), Nikhil Dubey (75kg), and Narender (90+kg) at the same event. In Brazil, Jadumani Singh (50kg), Manish Rathore (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), and Vishal (90kg) added to the bronze count.

India's first Olympic boxing medallist, Mr Vijender Singh, who graced the prize distribution ceremony as guest of honour, praised the athletes for their grit and ambition: "You've all performed exceptionally well. Keep striving. Life throws many challenges, but we must keep pushing forward without settling, always aiming higher."

This recognition is part of BFI's strategic intent to incentivize excellence and reinforce India's growing boxing framework, focusing on performance, depth, and systemic continuity. Earlier in the year, India earned a strong medal tally at the Asian U-15 and U-17 Championships, and promising results from the Thailand Open signaled a growing bench strength. On the domestic front, the recently concluded Elite Women's Boxing Tournament in Telangana provided valuable match exposure and scouting opportunities for emerging national prospects.