A young Bedford boxer has won a national championship after a scintillating performance at at the England Boxing National Development Championships at Arena Sports Kettering on 18 and 19 October.
Rekha Kambli, 16, who attends Bedford Girls’ School and trains out of the Bedford Elite Amateur Boxing Club based at Real Bedford FC, won the Development title in the 63kg to 66kg division, scoring a second round stoppage in the final.
Rekha’s journey to the championship was nothing short of spectacular.
In the semi-final, she showcased composure and skill in winning via a unanimous points decision in the third round.
The final saw Rekha take on Tegan Luscombe of Cambourne & Redruth Boxing Club based in Cornwall in an exhilarating match that was decided in the second round when the young Bedford fighter delivered a decisive stoppage.
Her performance was a testament to her hard work, technique, and relentless determination, ending the fight in the second round and claiming the national title.
Kambli follows in the footsteps of previous winners on this stage that include the likes of Tommy Fury, Galal Yafai and Georgia O’Connor.
A rising star
With this significant achievement under her belt, Rekha is now preparing for the next phase of her boxing career.
Her sights are set on England Boxing’s Women’s Winter Box Cup at Leigh Sports Village in December, a venue she won her first title at in 2024.
“I’m over the moon to have won this national title,” said Rekha.
“It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m so thankful to everyone who has supported me along the way, especially my coach and my team. The hard work paid off, and I can’t wait to see what’s next!”
Avi Kalyan, Head Coach at Bedford Elite Amateur Boxing Club, was also full of praise for Rekha’s performance.
“Rekha has shown immense growth and dedication over the past few years. She worked tirelessly for this moment, and her performance in the final was nothing short of outstanding. This is just the beginning for her, and we’re all incredibly proud of what she’s achieved.”
“When she first joined the gym, she came purely for fitness, boxing was just a way to get active”, says Avi.
Bedford Elite Amateur Boxing Club, who meet and train at the Lonsdale Gym on Meadow Lane inside Real Bedford Football Club are a grassroots club with no external funding.
“Over time, through her hard work and dedication, she developed a real passion for the sport and decided she wanted to compete. Her preparation for this tournament was outstanding”, added Avi.
Rekha’s record now stands at seven wins and no losses, with five of those victories coming by way of stoppage.
Attention now turns to Greater Manchester, with Rekha eyeing up success in the highly acclaimed Winter Box Cup, which has helped catapult boxers to esteemed careers and even Olympic spots.
More information on the upcoming Women’s Winter Box Cup in Leigh can be found here.
