Indian boxing team returned home after winning three medals in 68th International Boxing Tournament ‘Strandja’ 2017 Sofia, Bulgaria. The team could manage to win 1 silver and 2 bronze medals in the oldest boxing tournament in Europe.
In the tournament, Maisnam Meenakumari won bronze medal in women’s 54kg category. She lost to ultimate winner of the category Petrova Stanimira of Bulgaria. She lost to the host boxer by narrow margin of 2-3 points in semi final to settle for bronze medal. Meenakumari was the lone medallist among the Indian women boxers.
In men’s categories, Indian boxers won 2 medals; 1 silver and 1 bronze medal each. Amit Kumar who competed in 49kg won bronze medal while Mohammed Hussam Uddin won silver medal in 56kg. Mayengbam Thomas Meitei missed a chance to win a medal as he lost in the quarter final bout of 64kg category.https://web.archive.org/web/20210412070318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/HfHyBx8XA20?feature=oembed
The Indian team which comprised of 10 men and 5 women boxers competed in the training-cum-championship were:
Women: Nikhat Zareen (51kg), M Meena Kumari (54kg), Preeti Beniwal (60kg), Jyoti (64kg) and Monica Saun (75kg).
Men: Amit Kumar (49kg), Deepak Singh (52kg), Mohammad Hussamuddin (56kg), Shiva Thapa (60kg), Thomas Meitei (64kg), Manoj Kumar (69kg), Jaideep (75kg), Manish Panwar (81kg), Gaurav (91kg) and Satish Kumar (+91kg).
Kangabam Mandakini Chanu of Manipur was one of the women’s team coaches along with coach Jaydev Bisht.