India has emerged as the dominant force at the Seychelles National Day Boxing Tournament 2025, held in Mahe, securing the top spot with a remarkable haul of seven medals. The strong performance underscores India's growing prowess in the sport and highlights the talent within the nation's boxing ranks.
The tournament witnessed a series of impressive performances from the Indian contingent, with six boxers reaching the finals after displaying exceptional skill and determination in their respective semi-final matches. Aditya Pratap (65kg) of Uttar Pradesh, a former Elorda Cup participant and National Combined Finals silver medalist, showcased his experience with a dominant RSC (Referee Stops Contest) victory in the third round against local favorite Jovanie Bouzin. Neeraj (75kg), another National Combined silver medalist, mirrored this feat with an RSC win in the second round of his bout.
Haryana's Himanshu Sharma (50kg), a former Belgrade Boxing Champion and bronze medalist at the 6th Elite Nationals, secured a confident 4:1 victory on points against Mathieu Soupprayen of Mauritius. Ashish Mudshaniya (55kg) of Uttar Pradesh, the reigning National Combined champion, continued his impressive form with a solid 4:1 win over Guillaume Francis, also from Mauritius. Anmol (60kg) of Haryana, a National Combined silver medalist, earned a composed 4:1 split decision against Dario Gaberiel of Seychelles. Gaurav Chauhan (90+kg) from Services, a National Games gold medalist and Elorda Cup bronze medalist, received a direct entry into the final.
However, not all Indian boxers had the same luck. Kartik Dalal (70kg) fought valiantly but lost a close 1:4 decision on points to South Africa's Blessing Nziyana.
The finals, held on Sunday, June 22, 2025, were expected to further solidify India's position at the top of the medal table. The strong showing in the semi-finals guaranteed India several top-podium finishes, reflecting the hard work and dedication of the boxers and their support staff.
Coach Rival Payet expressed satisfaction with the performance of the boxers. The Seychelles National Day Boxing Tournament provided a valuable platform for Indian boxers to gain international exposure and test their skills against competitors from other countries. The success achieved by the Indian contingent is a testament to the growing strength of boxing in India and bodes well for the future of the sport in the country.
