Latest news with #JuniorNationalChampionship
News18
11-08-2025
- Sport
- News18
Sports Schedule for Monday, August 11
Last Updated: CRICKET: *ICC Chairman Jay Shah at an event in Mumbai at 11am to launch Trophy of upcoming women's ODI World Cup in India. *Stories related to developments in Indian cricket. Indian Army FT vs 1 Ladakh FCC in Jamshedpur at 7pm. CHESS: *St. Louis Rapid and Blitz in St Louis. World champion D Gukesh to participate. *Chennai Masters in Chennai. HOCKEY: *India men's team's tour of Australia. First match on August 15 in Perth. *Women's Junior National Championship in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
41st anniversary of The Times of India, Bengaluru: The big gallop; from being deemed an elitist sport to attracting young indians, equestrian has grown rapidly
Equestrian sports in India have surged in popularity, particularly in Bengaluru, thanks to supportive parents and year-round training opportunities. The Equestrian Premier League has revolutionized the sport, fostering consistent practice and skill development. Equestrian – which was seen as an elitist and expensive sport in India, with only expatriates showing interest until 20 years ago – has taken giant strides in the past 15 years. One reason for this dramatic change could be a shift in parents' priority. They are no longer hyper-focused on their child's academic performance; they are prioritizing their children's extracurricular activities too. We have seen many parents relocate from other parts of the country for the sake of their children in an incredible transformation. Also, more people are increasingly able to support their children's involvement in sports. Bengaluru has played a crucial role in the growth of equestrian activities over the past two decades. It is one of the most vibrant cities in India for sports. The weather in Bengaluru is a blessing, allowing students to ride and train every day. Riders can take advantage of more than eight hours in the saddle daily — four hours in the morning and four in the evening. In other cities, riders typically have around two hours a day for practice. Our progress in equestrian sports did not happen overnight. Ten years ago, we recognized a significant deficiency in how the sport was organized. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Competitions were primarily held in November and December, leaving only those two months for events in the north, where the sport was more prominent. In response, we launched the Equestrian Premier League in the south. This six-month tournament enables children to stay connected to riding round the year, instead of having periods of inactivity for nine months before jumping straight into competition. The sport has now become more professional. Aspiring equestrians can train year-round if they want to pursue their goals seriously. Competing for 3-4 days each month from June to November is crucial. In sports, you can't expect to practise for just two months and achieve professional success; progress requires repetition and consistent practice. Seeing the results of their hard work has been vital for young riders. The Junior National Championship, held in December, has become one of the few events where they gain recognition, such as certificates from Equestrian Federation of India. The system for becoming an equestrian has significantly improved over the past 20 years. Young riders typically start by participating in local regional shows. As they improve, they advance to national qualifiers and then to national championships. This structured pathway helps young riders become more professional. This system has produced talents like Fouaad Mirza, one of the most promising equestrians. His silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games and impressive performances at the Olympics have been pivotal for the equestrian community. Fouaad's success has inspired younger riders, showing them that they, too, can represent India on the international stage, compete in the Asian Games, or even aim for the Olympics. He has opened new doors for the equestrian community here. However, we still face challenges in making the sport accessible to middle and lower-income households, as equestrian sports can be expensive. We strive to sponsor talented kids, including those from staff families. Ultimately, it's about results — if you demonstrate talent, people will take notice regardless of your background. The community is advocating for government and media recognition of young riders who excel in tournaments like the Junior National Championship, similar to the visibility given to cricket and other sports. Visibility is crucial for inspiring others; people can only be motivated by what they see. Yet, certain roadblocks hinder equestrians from reaching the international level in India. We need a more effective federation that prioritizes the sport's best interests. Unfortunately, over the past five years, we have faced an impasse with the federation. Government support is also essential for improving the sport, especially regarding the import and export of horses. Currently, the government allows import – and not export – of horses. This policy means that an Indian rider training abroad cannot bring their horse back as they wouldn't be allowed to return to Germany with the horse. This restriction discourages riders from coming to India to train or compete (during the winter) which must change if we want to elevate equestrian sports to the next level. Competition is crucial for the future growth of equestrian sports in India. Increased competitions raise the standard of the sport and helps it gain greater recognition. Another important step is to engage more people in equestrian activities, whether they are family members of riders or newcomers. We're already seeing this with the growth of local clubs in Karnataka; every year, new clubs emerge — a promising sign of a thriving sporting community. Today, we have more than 20 regional clubs, reflecting a fantastic surge in equestrian sports. (As told to Aryan Thumboochetty)
India Gazette
19-06-2025
- Sport
- India Gazette
India's future boxing stars to face off at 6th Junior (U-17) Nationals
Rohtak (Haryana)[India], June 19 (ANI): Around 640 up-and-coming pugilists from across the country, including 350 boys and 290 girls, will face off in the 6th Junior (U-17) Boys and Girls National Boxing Championships at the National Boxing Academy in Rohtak, Haryana, from Thursday. Both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls competitions will feature 13 weight categories each, ranging from 44-46 kg to 80+ kg. The Services Sports Control Board will look to defend their title from the 5th Boys' Nationals, while Haryana enter as the defending champions in the Girls' category. 'The Junior National Championship is a crucial platform for young boxers to showcase their skills in front of national selectors and coaches. It plays a key role in helping BFI identify and nurture future talent. I am happy to see strong participation from all teams as we look to discover the next generation of Indian boxing stars. Many of these young boxers will represent India in the 2032 & 2036 Olympic Games, and therefore, this championship is of great importance,' said Boxing Federation of India President-Chairperson, Interim Committee, Ajay Singh. 'This championship also comes before the Asian Youth Games in October this year, where, for the first time, Boxing has been included. The winners from here will go on to represent India at these Asian Games, where 14 medals will be up for grabs. With robust systems already in place, BFI is committed to supporting these young athletes in realising their full potential,' he added. The gold and silver medallists of the REC Combined Talent Hunt (Junior Boys and Girls) held in October 2024 would be eligible to participate in the National Championships under the REC banner, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria of being born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The championships will be conducted as per the World Boxing Technical & Competitions Rules, wherein each bout will consist of three rounds of two minutes each, with a minute's rest in between. A ten-points-must scoring system shall be followed. Indian boxing has been making huge strides towards becoming a top boxing nation across all levels. While the seniors clinched eight medals, including two gold, at the recently-concluded Thailand International, the juniors (U-15 and U-17) collected 43 medals-including 15 gold, six silver, and 22 bronze-at the inaugural Asian U-15 & U-17 Championships, finishing second in the overall table and displaying the strength of a strong youth programme. (ANI)
Hans India
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Hans India
640 pugilists gear up for Junior (U-17) Boys & Girls Nationals in Rohtak
Rohtak: Around 640 up-and-coming pugilists from across the country, including 350 boys and 290 girls, will face off in the 6th Junior (U-17) Boys and Girls National Boxing Championships at the National Boxing Academy from June 19-26. Both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls competitions will feature 13 weight categories each, ranging from 44-46 kg to 80+ kg. The Services Sports Control Board will look to defend their title from the 5th Boys' Nationals, while Haryana enter as the defending champions in the Girls' category. "The Junior National Championship is a crucial platform for young boxers to showcase their skills in front of national selectors and coaches. It plays a key role in helping BFI identify and nurture future talent. I am happy to see strong participation from all teams as we look to discover the next generation of Indian boxing stars. Many of these young boxers will represent India in the 2032 & 2036 Olympic Games, and therefore, this championship is of great importance," said Boxing Federation of India president-chairperson, Interim Committee, Ajay Singh. "This championship also comes before the Asian Youth Games in October this year, where, for the first time, Boxing has been included. The winners from here will go on to represent India at these Asian Games, where 14 medals will be up for grabs. With robust systems already in place, BFI is committed to supporting these young athletes in realising their full potential," he added. The gold and silver medallists of the REC Combined Talent Hunt (Junior Boys and Girls) held in October 2024 would be eligible to participate in the National Championships under the REC banner, provided they fulfil the eligibility criteria of being born between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The championships will be conducted as per the World Boxing Technical & Competitions Rules, wherein each bout will consist of three rounds of two minutes each, with a minute's rest in between. A ten-points-must scoring system shall be followed. Indian boxing has been making huge strides towards becoming a top boxing nation across all levels. While the seniors clinched eight medals, including two gold, at the recently-concluded Thailand International, the juniors (U-15 & U-17) collected 43 medals–including 15 gold, six silver, and 22 bronze–at the inaugural Asian U-15 & U-17 Championships, finishing second in the overall table and displaying the strength of a strong youth programme.
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Sport
- New Indian Express
Unflappables sunil puts Shivamogga on hockey map
SHIVAMOGGA : Shivamogga is renowned for its lush greenery, waterfalls, rich cultural heritage and, yes, Ninasam, the drama school. Now, the twenty-year-old wiry, swarthy and uncompromising defender Sunil PB is set to put Shivamogga on the international hockey map when he dons the India jersey in the four-nation junior tournament to be held in Berlin next month. Dribbling past poverty and hard luck, Sunil, the younger of the two sons of daily-wage labourers in Talluru in Sorab taluk, has come a long way. 'My father, Palakshappa, is aged and not going for work these days. Mother, Rathnamma, and elder brother, Sandeep, work either as daily agriculture labourers or as masons. No one in our village thought I would play for India one day,' said a beaming Sunil when TNIE reached out to him. Sunil's life-changing moment came nearly eleven years ago when talent-spotter Sundaresh set his eyes on the bright schoolboy. He was on a scouting trip to Sunil's School. After putting Sunil through some routine tests, Sundaresh was impressed by the youngster's gritty attitude. Sunil recalls the turning point. He told TNIE: 'After taking some tests, Sundaresh sir asked me 'Are you interested in playing hockey? I said yes.' Sunil joined Shivamogga Sports Hostel in 2015-16 and enrolled at Sarvodaya School in Class 6. Later he moved on to DVS High School. After completing Class 10, he moved to Coorg to join the hockey hostel and enrolled for PUC. The next year Sunil dribbled his way into Sports Authority of India hostel in Bengaluru. He later joined Surana College for his Bachelor of Arts programme. During the first year in 2022, Sunil got selected to Karnataka junior team and he continued to play for the state in 2023. In 2024, he led the Karnataka team to a creditable fourth place finish in the Junior National Championship held in Jalandhar. Now, Berlin awaits the man from Shivamogga. An elated Sunil told TNIE: 'It is a great moment in my life as I am all set to represent my country at an international tournament. Coming from a backward village, I never dreamt of becoming a hockey player.
