Kashmir’s Rajouri Boxer Assures India Medal at Asian Championship in Uzbekistan | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Young boxing sensation Mohammad Yasir from the Khelo India Boxing Centre, Rajouri, has scripted a major achievement for Jammu and Kashmir and the country by assuring India a medal at the Under-15 Asian Boxing Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, after defeating a boxer from Kazakhstan to enter the semifinals of the prestigious continental event.

According to a statement shared by the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council on its official social media platforms on Thursday, the young boxer registered his third consecutive victory in the championship, overcoming a highly-rated Kazakh opponent from a country widely regarded as one of the strongest forces in world boxing.

Displaying remarkable composure, technical skill and determination inside the ring, Yasir secured a place in the semifinals and confirmed at least a bronze medal for India at the championship.

The Rajouri boxer is now scheduled to face an Iranian boxer in the semifinal bout on May 10, carrying the hopes of the country and the pride of Jammu and Kashmir into the crucial contest.

Fourteen-year-old Yasir, who trains at the Khelo India Boxing Centre in Rajouri under coach Mohammad Ishtiyaq, has emerged as one of the Union Territory’s most promising young athletes. His selection to represent India at the Under-15 Asian Boxing Championship had already marked a historic milestone, with officials describing him as one of the first boxers from Jammu and Kashmir to qualify for the prestigious event at the sub-junior level.

Yasir’s rise in the sport has been shaped by extraordinary personal struggle and perseverance. Having lost his father at a young age, he was raised by his widowed mother, who works as a domestic helper to support the family. Despite difficult living conditions and severe financial constraints, the young athlete continued intensive training and steadily progressed through state and national competitions.

Before the Asian Championship, Yasir had won a gold medal at the 4th Sub-Junior National Boxing Championship held in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in the 52–55 kilogram category, defeating opponents from across the country and strengthening his claim for a place in the Indian squad.

Ahead of his departure for Uzbekistan, the District Administration Rajouri had extended financial assistance to the young boxer in a move aimed at supporting sporting talent from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The support was provided under the ongoing “100 Day Nasha Mukht Jammu Kashmir Abhiyan” being implemented in Rajouri district under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma.

The financial assistance was extended by the Animal Husbandry Department under the guidance of Chief Animal Husbandry Officer Khalid Najeeb Khan.

The assistance was formally handed over in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Abhishek Sharma, Senior Superintendent of Police Gaurav Sikarwar, District Social Welfare Officer Abdul Rahim and Veterinary Assistant Surgeon Dr Shah Riaz Ahmed Chowdhary.

Officials had stated that the administration remained committed to encouraging talented youth, particularly sportspersons emerging from economically weaker backgrounds, and reiterated the need for collective societal support to help such athletes excel at national and international platforms.