Indian Boxers Shine at 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar

Two Indian boxers, Gunjan and Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei, have made significant strides at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics held in Dakar, Senegal. Gunjan reached the final of the women’s 48kg category, continuing India's strong boxing legacy.

Gunjan showcased her skills by defeating Great Britain’s Lily Bassett in the semifinals with a score of 4-1. The bout was closely contested, with the judges scoring it 30-27, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28, and 30-27, the majority favouring the Indian boxer. Having secured her place in the final, she will now face Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah, who advanced after a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Italy’s Michela Guglielmon.

Earlier in the tournament, Gunjan had convincingly defeated Mexico’s Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in the quarterfinals, ensuring herself a spot on the podium. She benefitted from a first-round bye, which allowed her to advance directly to the quarterfinal stage, where she remained in strong form.

Meanwhile, Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei became the first Indian boxer to qualify for the men’s 50kg final at the Youth Olympics. He achieved this milestone with a dominant performance in the semifinals, winning against Colombia’s Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo by a decisive 5-0 margin. The judges scored the contest 28-27, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26, and 28-27, all in favour of Meetei.

Ambekar will next compete against Ireland’s Kristian Jubani, who secured his final spot after defeating Mexico’s Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano 5-0.

As of now, India’s contingent has secured a total of nine medals at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics, including three silver and five bronze, across various disciplines including wrestling and swimming. The tournament showcases India’s growing presence in youth sports on the global stage and inspires future generations of athletes in the nation.