The tournament was attended by 500 participants, including coaches and athletes, with Maharashtra emerging as the top state.
The seventh MMA India National Championship took place from May 8 to May 12, 2024, marking a milestone event for MMA in India as the event witnessed 613 fighters representing 28 States and Union Territories of the nation. The championship was held across three cages at the Balbir Singh Juneja Stadium in Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
The opening day of the championship saw an Anti-Doping Seminar followed by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the MMA India Federation.
The two-hour Anti-Doping Seminar was conducted by NADA Officials from Delhi and was attended by 500 participants including athletes and coaches. The seminar was led by Mr. Manoj Kumar, Mr. Vikas Tyagi, and Dr. Neha Singh from NADA.
The tournament started on May 9 with categories for Youth, Junior, and Senior divisions across the three cages. The action inside the cage was wrapped up with the finals on May 12.
Maharashtra emerged on top in the final standings with 17 Gold, 1 Silver, and 12 Bronze medals. Jammu & Kashmir secured the 1st Runners Up position with 11 Gold, 12 Silver, and 3 Bronze medals, followed by the host state Chhattisgarh as 2nd Runners Up with 8 Gold, 15 Silver, and 22 Bronze medals.
Beyond the cage, the MMA India Award Night was a major highlight of the event, recognizing athletes across various categories with awards and certifications, including Best Coach, Best National & International Official, Host State, Upcoming State, Best State, Youth Development, Women Empowerment, Global Ambassador, Silver Shield, Serving the Nation, Secretary Award, and President Excellency Award. Each award was accompanied by a unique 50-gram silver medal featuring the MMA India and International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) logos.
The opening ceremony of the championship was graced by the Sports Minister Mr. Tank Ram Varma of Chhattisgarh State, while the closing ceremony hosted Mr. Manmohan Singh, a member of the Ministry Council.
