BFI Names 19-Boxer Squad for Thailand Open
The Boxing Federation of India (BFI) has announced a 19-member squad for the 4th Thailand Open International Boxing Tournament 2025, scheduled in Bangkok from May 24 to June 1. The squad—comprising 10 men and 9 women—has been selected from the ongoing elite national camp at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of Sports, Patiala, which is underway as the season builds toward key tournaments. The BFI followed its selection criterion, providing opportunities to silver medallists from the 2025 Elite Men’s and Women’s National Championships. Held under the aegis of Asian Boxing, the Thailand Open will see top national teams from across the continent compete, including powerhouses like China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Japan, Korea, and host nation Thailand. India’s men’s squad: Naothoi Singh Kongkham (47–50kg), Pawan Bartwal (50–55kg), Nikhil (55–60kg), Amit Kumar (60–65kg), Hemant Yadav (65–70kg), Deepak (70–75kg), Dhruv Singh (75–80kg), Jugnoo (80–85kg), Naman Tanwar (85–90kg), and Anshul Gill (90kg+) India’s women’s squad: Yasika Rai (45–48kg), Tamanna (48–51kg), Abha Singh (51–54kg), Priya (54–57kg), Sanju (57–60kg), Saneh (65–70kg), Anjali (70–75kg), Lalfakmawii Ralte (75–80kg), and Kiran (80kg+). Also Read: Delhi GM Chess Open To Offer Record ₹1.21 Cr Prize Pool Speaking on the occasion, BFI President-Chairman, Interim Committee, Mr Ajay Singh said: “With the team set to leave for the Thailand Open, we’re entering a very exciting phase for Indian boxing. This marks the beginning of a packed international calendar, with the World Cup stage tournament in Kazakhstan, the World Championship in Liverpool, the World Cup Finals in New Delhi, and several key tournaments, including the Asian Championship, lined up towards the end of the year. We have prioritised performance and transparency in our selection process—every boxer has earned their place through hard work and consistency. The national camp is already underway, and with the level of talent and structure now in place, I believe we are well-positioned to make a strong global impact in the months ahead.” The Patiala camp initially brought together 60 male and 60 female boxers, shortlisted from standout performers at the 2025 Nationals and gold and silver medallists from the 2024 REC Combined National Talent Hunt in Rohtak and Chief of Army Staff Cup in Pune. Following a round of internal assessments, the pool was pruned to 40 in each category. This refined core group will continue training through June, with additional athletes from an upcoming Elite Women’s Competition joining in July. The Thailand Open marks an important international outing in India’s boxing calendar, providing a platform for elite boxers to test themselves against Asia’s best, with momentum building toward the World Boxing Cup later this year.The Sportz Planet Desk
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World’s Most Physically Demanding Sports – Are you in?
Sports, usually, are misunderstood as a form of leisure and nothing else. However, that’s not the case. Sports need a lot of preparation, hard work, determination and skill to be played. Sports are exceptionally challenging and demand a different gravy of an athlete—those who might even be considered a bit crazy. Some sports push athletes to their absolute limits. Let’s explore some of the most physically demanding sports played around the world. Boxing Boxing is frequently regarded as the world’s most physically demanding sport due to the incredible physical and mental challenges it presents. Boxers need to develop an extraordinary level of cardiovascular endurance to sustain high-intensity activity throughout multiple rounds, each filled with rapid movements, powerful punches, and constant defense. The sport requires a combination of strength, speed, agility, and reflexes, along with precise technique and strategic thinking. Training for boxing involves rigorous routines that include strength training, aerobic conditioning, sparring, and skill drills. Additionally, the mental toughness required to endure physical pain, stay focused under pressure, and maintain composure during bouts is immense. The combination of these rigorous physical and mental demands makes boxing one of the toughest and most challenging sports in the world. Gymnastics Gymnasts at the top of their game train at least 40 hours per week, equivalent to a full-time job. Even beginners can expect to train close to 15 hours per week. Gymnastics requires balance, strength, speed, and hand-eye coordination. Modern gymnasts must tap into each skill to compete in various events. To achieve higher potential scores, gymnasts must include up to 6 or 7 strength elements. As rules change and scores fluctuate, gymnasts must stay on top of the latest strength and diet trends. Some gymnasts create their own moves to earn more points, cementing their legacies. Whether circling on the pommel horse, suspending their bodies on rings, or springing off the vault, gymnasts always risk near-misses or injuries from small mistakes. Sticking a perfect landing or earning a perfect 10 is one of the most challenging feats in sports. Water Polo In simplest terms, water polo is like soccer, but the field is replaced by a pool and “no hands” is replaced by “what else are you going to use?” Players cannot touch the bottom of the pool, so they must tread water for the duration of a 12-minute quarter. Their variation of treading water, called the “eggbeater,” is more efficient than the typical method. From the moment the referee releases the ball, players scratch and claw to gain possession. Officials ensure players’ nails are filed down to prevent scratches, but players still end matches with scratches, welts, and bruises. Even though punching is prohibited, players use the water to kick or hit beneath the surface for an advantage. Water polo is an insanely brutal sport that only top athletes can play. Wrestling Wrestling is one of the oldest sports in the world, dating back to 3000 BCE in Babylonia and Egypt. While no longer a fight to the death, wrestling still requires an insane combination of speed, endurance, strength, and, perhaps most importantly, discipline. College wrestling matches may have periods lasting only two or three minutes, but competitors often face several opponents back-to-back in a single competition, demanding incredible cardiovascular endurance. Training goes beyond just building muscle; wrestlers must prepare their bodies for stamina and contend with risks of injuries, especially to their shoulders and knees. Rashes and staph infections are common as well. Wrestling legend Dan Gable once said after his 1972 Olympics performance, “The point of wrestling is that it hurts and you overcome that. It never occurred to me that it wasn’t supposed to hurt.” Figure Skating From afar, figure skating appears as an elegant spectacle of bedazzled costumes, graceful leg movements, and serene performances synchronized to the perfect song. However, up close, it is a brutal, physically daunting, and potentially dangerous sport. Skaters balance on tiny metal edges, jumping, spinning, and flinging their bodies into the air, risking dislocated shoulders or bruised tailbones, elbows, shoulders, and knees. Ice isn’t exactly soft to land on. American Olympic gold medalist skater Peggy Fleming began training at the age of 9, committing to 6 to 7 hours per day, 6 days a week, for 11 months out of the year. Football Football is undoubtedly one of the most physically demanding sports. It requires players to maintain peak physical condition, as they must sprint, jog, and run continuously for 90 minutes, covering an average distance of 7 to 10 miles per game. The sport demands a blend of speed, agility, endurance, and strength, as well as exceptional hand-eye coordination and tactical awareness. Players frequently engage in high-intensity bursts of activity, including sudden sprints, jumps, and tackles, which test their cardiovascular and muscular endurance. Moreover, football is a contact sport, and players often face physical challenges such as body checks, collisions, and falls, leading to a high risk of injuries ranging from sprains and strains to fractures and concussions. The mental toughness required to perform under the intense pressure of packed stadiums and the strategic complexity of the game further elevate football as one of the world’s most demanding sports. Strongman Strongman involves picking up extremely heavy objects and moving them around. Events like the Atlas Stone, where participants lift humongous concrete balls onto a platform, and the Farmer’s Walk, where contestants carry heavy weights to a finish line, are common. Strongman participants need access to logs, massive tires, and even cars for training. Top athletes must consume almost 10,000 calories a day to maintain their strength. Ironman At the annual Ironman European Championships, participants swim for 2.4 miles, cycle for 112 miles, and run for 26.2 miles. This exerts an excruciating toll on the body, with risks of cardiac arrests and, in severe cases, death. Most triathlon deaths occur during the swim portion. Ironman competitors must maintain their bodies in tiptop shape, follow a well-balanced diet, and hydrate properly. They must also avoid drinking too much water, which can
