Neelakshi Saikia has created history by becoming the first woman from Nagaon district to qualify as a national boxing referee, marking a significant achievement for the district’s sporting community and women’s participation in sports officiating.
Saikia earned the distinction after successfully clearing the National Referee Examination conducted during the recently concluded Kaziranga Rhino Cup Professional Boxing League held at Golaghat Stadium.
The achievement has been widely welcomed by athletes, coaches and sports enthusiasts across Nagaon, who described it as a proud moment for the district and an important milestone in the growth of boxing in Assam.
The Kaziranga Rhino Cup Professional Boxing League was organised by the Assam Boxing Association under the supervision of the Boxing Federation of India. The event was notable for being the first professional boxing league ever hosted in Assam, bringing together boxers, officials and sports administrators from different parts of the country.
The tournament witnessed participation from several states and Union Territories, including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Chandigarh, Goa and Ladakh. The event provided a platform not only for professional boxers to showcase their talent but also for officials seeking to advance their careers in the sport.
Alongside the competition, the National Referee Examination was conducted to assess and certify aspiring boxing referees at the national level. Candidates who successfully cleared the examination became eligible to officiate in national-level boxing competitions across the country.
By passing the examination, Saikia secured national accreditation as a boxing referee and became the first woman from Nagaon district to achieve the qualification. Her accomplishment is being seen as a major step forward for women in sports administration and officiating roles, areas that have traditionally seen limited female representation.
Members of the sporting fraternity in Nagaon said the achievement reflects Saikia’s dedication, hard work and commitment to the sport. They expressed hope that her success would encourage more women to explore opportunities in different aspects of sports, including refereeing, coaching, event management and administration.