In a sport traditionally dominated by men, two young British-Sikh girls from Warwick are rewriting the rules—and breaking stereotypes—one punch at a time.
Meet Jaya ‘Jayweather’ Kalsi and Serena Kaur Mali, rising stars in the world of amateur boxing and proud representatives of Team England. At just 15, they’re not only racking up medals and titles, but inspiring an entire generation of girls – especially within the South Asian community – to dream big and fight harder.
Both girls have recently featured in the acclaimed BBC iPlayer documentary Sikh Boxing Warriors, and now their journey to the Olympics has caught the attention of Sky Sports. Their growing visibility is a monumental moment for representation, especially for Sikh girls who have long faced cultural taboos about women in sports.
Jaya Kalsi, aptly nicknamed ‘Jayweather’ in homage to boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, began boxing at age 7. A proud product of Cleary’s Boxing Gym in Leamington Spa, she now trains six days a week with the discipline of a seasoned pro. Her resume is nothing short of extraordinary:
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3x National Champion (2021, 2023, 2024)
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European Gold Medallist 2023
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GB Gold Winner (2023 & 2024)
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Golden Girl & International Tournament Champion 2024
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2x Box Cup Gold Winner
Meanwhile, Serena Kaur Mali, a student at Myton School in Warwick, holds four national titles and has earned both silver and bronze at the European level. She’s set to represent England again this May at the Three Nations in Cardiff.
Both Jaya and Serena have their eyes firmly set on the LA 2028 Olympics and aspire to one day become World Champions. But with elite training comes high costs—travel, equipment, nutrition, and gym fees. The community is now rallying to support these young athletes in finding sponsors to back their journeys.
Their rise isn’t just about wins in the ring—it’s about breaking old-school tropes that told girls to be quiet, graceful, and anything but fierce. Today, Jaya and Serena are proving that South Asian girls can be all of the above—and still throw a knockout punch.
