Savate in Chhattisgarh

Verified profileAchievements, tournaments, coaches and scholarships on this page are compiled from federation and government sources (Savate Association India (savateindia.com), Asian Savate Confederation (asiansavate.org), The News Radar — Rahul Srivastava head coach appointment coverage, Wikipedia — Federation Internationale de Savate).

Overview

Governing body: Indian Savate Federation
Origin: France
Olympic discipline: No
Category: Combat
Total players listed: …

Savate is one of India's most-followed disciplines. The Indian Savate Federation oversees national federation activity, talent identification and Olympic qualification pathways. Major support flows in through TOPS and Khelo India for athletes who clear federation benchmarks.

Savate is not currently on the Olympic programme, but it sits firmly inside India's broader sporting ecosystem. The discipline receives support through the Khelo India movement, multi-sport events such as the National Games and Asian Games trials wherever the sport is contested, and dedicated league or championship structures run by the federation. Sponsorship, broadcast deals and private academies often fill the gap that direct government funding leaves, and several state governments offer cash awards, government jobs and land grants to medallists at the National Games and recognised world championships.

Combat sport pathways in India are unusually deep because of the country's traditional akhara and dojo culture sitting alongside the modern federation structure. The Indian Savate Federation runs sub-junior, junior, youth and senior nationals every year, and weight-category selection trials decide who represents India at continental and world events. Sports science, weight management and injury rehabilitation have become major focus areas since multiple Indian combat athletes have reached the Olympic and World Championship podium. SAI's combat-sport centres at Patiala, Lucknow, Bhopal, Sonepat and the IIS in Vijayanagar form the backbone of the elite training network.

At the grassroots, the route into Savate typically starts at school under the School Games Federation of India (SGFI), at the inter-university level under the Association of Indian Universities (AIU), or through a private academy registered with the state association. The Khelo India Youth Games and Khelo India University Games are the largest single discovery platforms — athletes who reach the podium at these events become eligible for the Khelo India Talent Development scheme, which funds boarding, coaching, kit, education and a monthly stipend at accredited centres. State sports awards and central government jobs under the sports quota remain a powerful incentive for athletes from smaller towns.

Savate originated in France, and in India it has developed a distinct character shaped by the country's geography, demographics and sporting culture. Whether you want to compete, coach, sponsor, write about or simply follow Savate, the practical starting point is the same: connect with your state association under the Indian Savate Federation, identify the nearest SAI centre or accredited academy, and track the Khelo India and federation calendars for the events that decide selection at every level. Savate is played and developed across India under the Indian Savate Federation, with grassroots programmes, state associations and national-level competition pathways.

History

How savate evolved globally and took root in India.

Savate traces its modern origins to France. Codified rules, standard equipment and international competition took shape as the sport spread beyond its birthplace, and Indian Savate Federation is the body that carried it into organised Indian competition.

In India, savate grew through princely-state patronage, defence-service teams, universities and state associations. Post-independence, the discipline was formalised under Indian Savate Federation, national championships were instituted, and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) later brought it into the centralised high-performance system with dedicated centres, coaching cadres and sports-science support.

Savate sits outside the Olympic programme but is firmly part of India's Asian Games, Commonwealth and National Games map, with state governments backing medallists through cash awards, jobs and land grants.

Indian Players

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Rules

Savate (boxe française) is a French kickboxing discipline in which strikes are delivered with booted feet and gloved fists only — no knees, elbows, shins or grappling. Bouts are contested in a ring across rounds of two minutes by weight category, in two main formats: assaut, where scoring rewards precise, controlled technique and excessive power is penalised, and combat, where full-power knockout finishes are permitted for experienced fighters. Kicks are classified as fouetté (whipping), chassé (thrusting), revers (reverse) and coup de pied bas (low kick to the shin), and punching follows English-boxing conventions. Judges score technique, accuracy and ring control; grades run through a colour-glove system up to the technical silver glove.

Authoritative rulebook: Indian Savate Federation. Age-group and school-level variations are published by SGFI and the state associations each season.

Positions

Key roles, events or positions inside a savate squad or competition.

Fighter / competitor
Contests bouts inside the ring, mat or cage in a set weight category.
Corner / second
Coach in the corner during the bout — allowed to instruct between rounds.
Referee & judges
Officiate the bout, score rounds and enforce safety rules.
Cutman / medical
Manages cuts, swelling and immediate medical needs between rounds.

Equipment

Standard kit and infrastructure required to train and compete in savate at a federation-recognised event.

Savate boots (rigid-soled shoes — striking with the foot is only legal in boots)
Boxing gloves, gum shield, groin guard
Shin guards and chest protector for assaut and youth categories
Integral savate suit (one-piece stretch uniform) with colour-glove grade markings
Ring with padded ropes; punch bags and focus mitts for training

Governing body

National federation

Indian Savate Federation

Indian Savate Federation is the recognised national body for Savate in India. It sets the domestic calendar, selection norms, coaching curriculum and anti-doping compliance, and is affiliated to the international federation for savate. State associations under Indian Savate Federation run age-group competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Origin: France
Olympic: No
Category: Combat

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Major Indian Events

Domestic championships, Khelo India events, National Games and franchise leagues that shape the savate calendar in India.

National Savate Championship
Held by Savate Association India (savateindia.com), which is recognized by FISav (the International Savate Federation) and its Asian Savate Confederation; the 6th edition was held in Chandigarh in 2023. India also hosted the 6th Asian Savate Championships at Talkatora Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, under FISav and the Asian Savate Confederation.
Governance note
Some coverage also references a separately-named 'National Savate Federation' (Bihar/Himachal Pradesh-based) fielding India's youth national team — reflecting the same kind of multi-organization complexity seen in several other Indian combat sports researched tonight.

International Events

Continental and world-level competitions where India competes in savate.

World Youth Savate Championship
India sent a team to the 2025 edition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Asian Savate Championships
India has both hosted (6th edition, New Delhi) and competed at other editions.
International medal record
Under long-serving coach Rahul Srivastava, Indian savate athletes have won over 50 medals across major international tournaments — a substantial tally for a still-developing combat sport in India.

Leagues

No dedicated professional league is currently catalogued for savate. The national championship under Indian Savate Federation remains the top domestic competition.

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International Players

Globally recognised savate athletes to know outside India.

Mikaela Mayer (USA) / Naoya Inoue (Japan)
World-title boxers headlining the current pro scene.
Islam Makhachev (Russia)
UFC lightweight champion.
Zaur Uguev (Russia)
Two-time Olympic and multiple-time World wrestling champion.
Kim Yu-Jin (South Korea)
Olympic taekwondo gold medallist.
Uta Abe (Japan)
Olympic and World judo champion.

Records

Where to find India's official savate record book.

Olympic medalsN/A
Savate is not on the Olympic programme, so India records this discipline through Asian Games, Commonwealth, World and Continental championships instead.
Asian Games medalsTracked
India's Asian Games results in savate are compiled by the Indian Olympic Association and the Indian Savate Federation.
Commonwealth medalsTracked
Commonwealth Games and Commonwealth Championship medals in savate are maintained by the Indian Savate Federation.
World Championship medalsTracked
Senior, junior and youth World Championship medal records are held by the international federation for savate and mirrored by Indian Savate Federation.
National record holdersFederation register
Indian Savate Federation publishes the current senior, junior and sub-junior national records and updates them after every ratified event.

Career Options

Ways to build a career in savate — on the field, on the sidelines and behind the scenes.

Playing pathway through state savate associations — Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have particularly active programmes — feeding national and international team selection
India's international medal tally (50+) under experienced coaching suggests a genuinely competitive, if still-developing, national programme
Coaching pathway through FISav-recognized certification

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Related academies

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Government Schemes

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Central and state schemes that fund training, stipends and awards for savate athletes and academies.

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FAQs

Common questions about savate in India.

Who governs Savate in India?▾

Indian Savate Federation is the recognised national federation for Savate in India. State associations under Indian Savate Federation run age-group and state-level competition and feed the national talent pipeline.

Is Savate an Olympic sport?▾

Savate is not currently on the Olympic programme, but India competes at Asian Games, Commonwealth Games (where recognised), World Championships and other continental events sanctioned by Indian Savate Federation.

How do I start playing Savate in India?▾

Join a school team under SGFI, a college team under AIU, or a private academy affiliated to your state association. From there, age-group state championships and Khelo India events are the standard route into the national pipeline.

What government schemes support Savate athletes?▾

The core schemes are Khelo India (talent development stipends, scholarships and boarding at accredited centres), TOPS (funding for elite athletes preparing for the Olympics, Asian Games and Commonwealth Games), and state-government cash awards, jobs and land grants for medallists. Federation-specific schemes may also apply.

Where can I train for Savate?▾

Sports Authority of India (SAI) national centres of excellence, Khelo India accredited academies, state sports institutes and private academies registered with the state association are the standard training venues. The Academies section on this page lists options.

How are Indian Savate athletes selected for international events?▾

Indian Savate Federation runs selection trials — typically the senior national championship, a dedicated trial event, or ranking-based selection — and publishes the selection policy each season. Objective criteria (times, distances, ranking points, weight-class results) dominate at the elite level.

Savate in every state & UT

Dedicated pages for Savate in each Indian state and Union Territory — academies, schemes, athletes and how to start.

Savate