By Our Reporter
Shillong, May 1: The gloves came off, the punches flew thick and fast, and by the time the final bell rang, a new generation of Meghalaya’s boxers had quietly announced their arrival.
The State Boxing Championship 2025-26 concluded at Mawlai Mawroh on Thursday evening after four days of intense action, with young pugilists from across the state showcasing grit, skill and remarkable composure inside the ring.
Organised by the Meghalaya Boxing Association with support from the Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, the tournament brought together 105 boxers representing eight districts and several established boxing clubs.
Competitions were held across junior (15-16 years) and youth (17-18 years) categories for both boys and girls, divided further by weight classes in line with national and international standards. Among the standout performers, four boxers walked away with the coveted Best Boxer awards in their respective categories.
Evangellyne Sohbar of Ri-Bhoi clinched the Junior Girls honour, while Damonlang Marbaniang of Green Heart Boxing Club bagged the Junior Boys title.
In the youth section, Ekyrpangmeki Sohiong of Ri-Bhoi was adjudged the best among girls, and Amethyst Synnah of West Jaintia Hills topped the boys’ category.
Casbe K Marak of West Garo Hills, meanwhile, was named the Emerging Boxer of the Championship, underlining the promise he carries for the future.
The atmosphere around the ring grew increasingly electric as the championship progressed, especially during the closing bouts in the youth men’s division.
Four of the six finals in this category ended via referee stopped contest (RSC), a clear indication of the dominance displayed by some of the winners.
Amethyst secured his 48-50kg title in commanding fashion, forcing a stoppage against Samuel Sohphoh of Ri-Bhoi in the second round. In another bout, Casbe had to settle for silver after going down to Rang-i-man Lamin of West Jaintia Hills in the 65-70kg final.
Yet, not all contests were one-sided. Russell Fabian Nongkhlaw of Mawshbuit Boxing Club edged past Banchanmeki Pyrtuh in a closely fought 45-48kg final via split decision, while Ekyrpangmeki Sohiong was stretched to the limit before sealing a unanimous points win over Laweibaphyrnai Marwein in the 48-51kg youth women’s category.
Addressing the gathering, Marbaniang urged the young athletes to maintain both physical fitness and mental resilience.
He pointed to Meghalaya’s boxing icon Torak Kharpran as an example worth emulating, noting his journey from winning medals at national and international levels to coaching the Indian senior team.
