DAKAR, Nov 11: Indian boxing received a major boost at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games as Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan advanced to the finals in their respective weight categories, guaranteeing the country two medals and creating fresh opportunities for historic gold-medal achievements.
Ambekar secured his place in the men’s 50kg final with a commanding 5-0 victory over Colombia’s Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo in the semi-final on Wednesday. Gunjan also delivered an impressive performance in the women’s 48kg category, defeating Great Britain’s Lily Bassett 4-1 to book her place in the title contest.
The double success has strengthened India’s boxing campaign at the competition being held in Dakar, Senegal, and highlighted the growing potential of the country’s emerging fighters.
For Ambekar, the victory carries additional significance as he became the first Indian boxer in 16 years to reach a Youth Olympic final. The achievement brings back memories of Shiva Thapa, who reached the men’s 54kg final at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010 and secured a silver medal.
Ambekar will now have an opportunity to go a step further by competing for the gold medal against Ireland’s Kristian Jubani on Thursday, November 12.
The Manipuri boxer dominated his semi-final against Arevalo, displaying confidence, accuracy and strong defensive awareness throughout the contest.
Competing from the red corner, Ambekar maintained control over the exchanges and successfully prevented his Colombian opponent from establishing a consistent attacking rhythm.
All five judges awarded the bout to the Indian, with scores of 28-27, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26 and 28-27.
The unanimous decision reflected Ambekar’s ability to remain composed during an important stage of the competition.
His performance was another indication of the progress he has made throughout the tournament. The Indian had already demonstrated his attacking strength in the earlier rounds, securing victories over opponents from Namibia and Senegal.
Ambekar began his campaign against Namibia’s Abraham Kalenga, winning through a referee-stops-contest decision at 1:57 in the opening round.
The victory allowed him to progress directly towards the medal stages and established him as a serious contender in the men’s 50kg category.
He subsequently faced Senegal’s Faye Cheikh Ibrahima Fall in the quarter-finals. Despite competing against a home favourite, Ambekar maintained his concentration and secured a convincing 5-0 points victory.
The semi-final against Arevalo presented another difficult challenge, but the Indian once again demonstrated the technical ability and discipline required to progress.
His three consecutive victories have established him as one of India’s standout performers in the boxing competition.
The final against Ireland’s Kristian Jubani will now provide the biggest test of his campaign.
Jubani also entered the title contest after producing an impressive performance against Mexico’s Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano. The Irish boxer secured a 5-0 unanimous decision, with all five judges awarding him the victory.
The 17-year-old displayed effective counter-attacking skills and maintained control during the contest. He also forced two standing counts in the second round, putting considerable pressure on his Mexican opponent.
Jubani has been among the consistent performers in the competition and will enter the final with considerable confidence.
The Irish boxer represents Crumlin Boxing Club and has previously achieved success in European youth competitions. He is also a European Under-19 silver medallist and won the European Under-17 title in 2025.
His experience against strong international opponents makes him a challenging rival for Ambekar.
The gold-medal contest will therefore bring together two young fighters who have demonstrated impressive form throughout the tournament.
For India, a victory would represent a landmark achievement, as the country has not yet won a Youth Olympic boxing gold medal.
The women’s 48kg final will provide another opportunity for India to add to its medal tally through Gunjan.
The Indian boxer secured her place in the title contest after defeating Britain’s Lily Bassett 4-1 in a closely fought semi-final.
The judges returned scores of 30-27, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 and 30-27, with four officials favouring the Indian.
Gunjan demonstrated considerable determination and tactical awareness against an opponent who attempted to challenge her through consistent attacking combinations.
Her ability to maintain control during the exchanges proved decisive, allowing her to secure the victory and guarantee herself at least a silver medal.
She had earlier defeated Mexico’s Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in the quarter-finals, producing a convincing performance to enter the last four.
Gunjan received a first-round bye before beginning her knockout campaign in the quarter-final stage.
Her upcoming final against Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah will be another demanding encounter.
Bensalah booked her place in the gold medal contest after registering a narrow 3-2 victory over Italy’s Michela Guglielmon.
The result suggests that the women’s 48kg final could be closely contested, with both boxers entering the decisive stage after successful semi-final performances.
Gunjan will look to continue the form she has displayed throughout the tournament and attempt to secure India’s second boxing gold-medal opportunity at the Games.
The progress of both Indian boxers is particularly encouraging because it demonstrates the country’s growing strength in the younger age categories.
India has invested significant attention in identifying and developing boxing talent through national-level competitions, specialised training programmes and international exposure.
Youth tournaments such as the Dakar Games provide emerging athletes with valuable opportunities to compete against opponents from different boxing traditions.
They also help young competitors understand the demands of international championships before moving towards senior-level competitions.
For Indian boxing, the performances in Dakar could prove important in strengthening the pipeline of athletes expected to represent the country in future continental and world level tournaments.
The achievements of Ambekar and Gunjan also underline the importance of maintaining a strong grassroots structure.
Boxing requires a combination of physical conditioning, technical ability, tactical intelligence and mental strength. Young athletes must develop all these qualities while adapting to the pressure of international competition.
The ability of both Indian fighters to reach the finals reflects the effectiveness of their preparation and their determination to perform at the highest level.
Ambekar’s journey is particularly notable because of the historical significance attached to his achievement.
Before his progress in Dakar, Shiva Thapa was the last Indian boxer to reach a Youth Olympic final, achieving the feat in 2010.
Thapa subsequently became an established name in Indian boxing and represented the country at multiple international competitions.
Ambekar now has an opportunity to create his own place in the country’s sporting history by becoming India’s first Youth Olympic boxing gold medallist.
The men’s 50kg final against Jubani will be crucial in determining whether he can complete that achievement.
Meanwhile, Gunjan’s performance has ensured that India’s women’s boxing programme also remains in contention for the highest honour.
The two finalists will enter their respective bouts with different opponents and tactical challenges, but both have demonstrated the ability to compete effectively against international competition.
India’s overall performance at the Dakar Youth Olympics has also been encouraging.
The country had accumulated nine medals, including three silver and five bronze, by the morning session of November 11, with medals coming from wrestling and swimming. The two boxing finalists have further strengthened India’s medal prospects.
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The achievement has provided additional motivation to the Indian contingent as the competition approaches its concluding stages.
The boxing finals scheduled for November 12 will be particularly important for the country’s campaign.
Ambekar and Gunjan will both have opportunities to convert their impressive semi-final performances into gold medals.
Their progress has already ensured that India will return with at least two medals from the respective boxing categories, regardless of the final outcomes.
For the coaching staff, the immediate priority will be to prepare both athletes physically and mentally for their decisive contests.
Recovery, tactical planning and maintaining concentration will be essential after the demanding semi-final bouts.
The Indian camp will also look to ensure that the young boxers approach the finals with confidence without allowing the importance of the occasion to affect their performances.
The Dakar competition has offered a valuable platform for India’s emerging sporting talent, and the achievements of Ambekar and Gunjan have become major highlights of the country’s campaign.
Their performances demonstrate that Indian boxing continues to produce promising athletes capable of challenging established international opponents.
With two gold-medal contests awaiting the Indian fighters, the country will be hoping that the impressive progress made during the preliminary and semi-final rounds culminates in championship victories.
A successful outcome would not only strengthen India’s medal tally but also provide a significant boost to the future of youth boxing in the country.
For Ambekar, the opportunity is to end India’s long wait for a Youth Olympic boxing champion. For Gunjan, it is a chance to secure a major international title and establish herself among the promising young names in Indian women’s boxing.
Both athletes have already achieved an important milestone in Dakar. Their final performances will determine whether the campaign becomes an even bigger chapter in India’s Youth Olympic sporting history.