Guwahati: As part of its continued effort to unearth fresh talent from across the country, the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) in association with the REC Limited and Sports Authority of India (SAI) will conduct the ‘2nd REC Open Talent Hunt’ competition for the youth and elite men and women Boxers at the SAI stadium in Assam’s Guwahati between September 15 and 21, 2024.
The competition serves as a platform for the aspiring boxers to showcase their skills.
The event will witness around 600 boxers competing in 12 weight categories each for elite men and women, and 10 weight categories each for youth men and women.
Based on their performance during the seven-day event, about 96 boxers each from elite men and women, and 80 boxers each from youth men and women categories will be eligible to participate in the combined national level talent programme.
The gold and silver medallists from each weight category of the combined national level talent hunt will get a direct entry into the national camps.
“The BFI and REC have been taking numerous initiatives to identify and nurture budding boxers as part of our commitment towards increasing the talent pool and the growth of Indian boxing, BFI secretary general, Hemanta Kumar Kalita, said.
Kalita said the open talent hunt programme is designed to sport in every corner of India and is open to budding boxers from across the country.
“It also provides a fantastic opportunity for boxers from the Northeast to make a mark in their own backyard and take a shot in taking their journey towards national and international glory,” he added.
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The winners in each category will get scholarships as well.
The first competition of the second edition of the programme was held in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida in August this year with 2,820 boxers across sub junior, junior, youth and elite men and women categories showcasing their skills.
The first edition of the programme was held from September 2023 to April 2024 in Haryana’s Rohtak, Maharashtra’s Pune, Karnataka’s Bengaluru and Assam’s Guwahati, followed by the combined national talent hunt in Rohtak.
Over 6,000 boxers in various weight and age categories participated and showcased their skills in front of the national coaches and selectors.
Over 1,000 boxers participated in the youth and elite categories during the Guwahati leg of the first edition of the event with 38 pugilists from Assam clinching medals, including nine gold.