MMA India National Championships sets benchmark for COVID protocols

By Caoilte de Barra

The Fourth MMA India National Championships took place at the Babu Sunder Singh Institute of Technology and Management in Lucknow, India from 19 February 2021 to 21 February 2021. The event followed COVID safety protocols which can serve as a benchmark for upcoming IMMAF events in 2021.

The event welcomed 223 athletes from 22 states and 3 union territories from across the country. History was created as over 37 women registered to compete, highlighting the growth in popularity and take-up of the sport amongst women. 

The State Government of Uttarpradesh provided their support for the event as well as assurances they will continue to support and host future events. In addition to this, the State Sports Minister provided a positive update by assuring the sport would soon gain official recognition by the Sports Ministry in New Delhi.

2018 IMMAF Jr. World Champion Mahboob Khan was in action at the event as he retained the national title for a third consecutive year. The exciting young fighter is renowned for finishing fights following his two first-round finishes at the 2018 IMMAF Junior World Championships to secure gold. 

Khan also featured at the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified World Championships as a senior. He outpointed 2020 IMMAF Oceania Open Championships winner Troy Fumo in the opening fight but did not feature in the following round. 

Two other former India National team representees, Akash Gautam and Karan Chauhan also competed. Although both were unable to secure a medal position. Gautam notably competed at the 2017 IMMAF World Championships and Chauhan at the 2019 IMMAF-WMMAA Unified World Championships respectively. 

It is expected that some of the winners of the event will represent India at future IMMAF Championships. 

See below for the full list of medalists from the 2021 MMA India National Championships. 

Female: Atomweight:

1. Vridhi Kumari (TN)
2. Shvanshika Sharma (UP)
3. Aksheta Shenbhogue (KA)
4. Shivani Sen (UP)

Female: Strawweight:

1. Fathima (TN)
2. Anamika Verma (UP)
3. Kavyasree K (KA)
4. Geeta Das (MP)

Female: Flyweight:

1. Muskan Ratre (CG)
2. Maithri (KA)
3. Ritika (UP)

Female: Bantamweight:

1. Khushboo (MH)
2. Mandeep Kaur (UK)
3. Quasain Khan (UP)

Female: Lightweight:

1. Irshita Aggrawal (UP)
2. Aushi Singh (DL)
3. Shiwari Sharma (HP)
4. Surahbi Sankila (MP)

Female: Middleweight:

1. Divya Rajeswari (TS)

Male: Strawweight:

1. Shabarish A (TN)
2. Mohd Abdul (TS)
3. Adarsh Barot (GJ)
4. Ishan Kumar (CG)

Male: Flyweight:

1. Mahboob Khan (TS)
2. Bhavesh Dangariya (MP)
3. Mohamed Arbaz (TS)
4. Umer (JK)

Male: Bantamweight:

1. Lenin Prakash (TN)
2. Limasunep Imchen (Nagaland)
3. Shubham Waghmare (MH)
4. Deepak Shekawat (HR)

Male: Featherweight:

1. Kaushik Sai Kumar (TN)
2. Rajesh Pujari (OD)
3. Ram Mohan (HR)
4. Nitesh Kumar (CH)

Male: Lightweight

1. Rahul Thapa (HR)
2. Rishab (MP)
3. Glen Fenando (TN)
4. Eshu Sharma (UK)

Male: Welterweight

1. Zarmawia (MZ)
2. Owais Yaqoob (JK)
3. Siddant Singh (DL)
4. Gursewak (CH)

Male: Middleweight:

1. Anurag Singh (UK)
2. Uday Pratap Singh (UK)
3. Nitiraj Singh Chouhan (MP)
4. Paramveer Singh (CH)

Male: Light Heavyweight:

1. Tashi Wangchu (AR)
2. Adarsh S (KA)
3. Nagendra Singh (UP)
4. Sachin Gurjar (MP)

Male: Heavyweight:

1. Hassan Hashmi (UP)
2. Mohit Aggarwal (CG)
3. Prudyot Roy (UP)

Male: Super Heavyweight

1. Yogesh Jadhav (MH)
2. Raktim Singha (WB)