Youth Olympics: Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan win India's first boxing golds
Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan each won gold at Dakar 2026, giving India its first-ever boxing titles at the Youth Olympic Games.
Indian boxers Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan won gold medals at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, marking India's first boxing golds at the event.
Key takeaways
- India won its first-ever boxing gold medals at the Youth Olympic Games
- Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei won the men's 50kg final 3-2 against Jubani Kristian of Ireland
- Gunjan won the women's 48kg final 5-0 against Bensalah Bouthaina of Algeria
- Both boxers were part of a two-member Indian boxing contingent with a 100% medal record
- India's previous best boxing results at the Youth Olympics were silver and bronze in 2010
Indian boxers Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan won gold medals at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, on Thursday, giving India its first-ever boxing gold medals at the competition.
Ambekar Meetei defeated Ireland's Jubani Kristian 3:2 in the men's 50kg final, while Gunjan beat Algeria's Bensalah Bouthaina 5:0 in the women's 48kg final. The two-member Indian boxing contingent maintained a 100% medal record at the Games, with both athletes winning gold.
These were also India's first two gold medals at Dakar 2026.
Context
India's previous best boxing performances at the Youth Olympics came at the 2010 edition in Singapore, where Shiva Thapa won silver in the men's 54kg category and Vikas Krishan won bronze in the men's 60kg event.
Ambekar Meetei reached the final after stopping Namibia's Abraham Kalenga in the first round of the quarterfinals and defeating Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo 5-0 in the semifinals. Gunjan secured her place in the final by beating Great Britain's Lily Bassett 4-1 in the semifinals.
Boxing Federation of India president Ajay Singh said the achievement was historic for Indian boxing and Indian sport, and that India had opened its gold medal account at Dakar 2026.
What happens next
The 2026 Summer Youth Olympics, officially the IV Summer Youth Olympic Games and commonly known as Dakar 2026, are being held in Dakar, Senegal, from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
The Games are the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympics, an international multi-sport event for athletes aged 15 to 18 years old organized by the International Olympic Committee.
This is India's fourth consecutive appearance at the Summer Youth Olympics, with 17 athletes competing across 11 disciplines. India had won three gold medals at the 2018 Youth Olympics, with two in shooting and one in wrestling.
As of Thursday, India had won two gold, three silver and five bronze medals at Dakar 2026.
India's boxing results at the Youth Olympic Games
Year | Boxer | Weight category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
2010 | Shiva Thapa | Men's 54kg | Silver |
2010 | Vikas Krishan | Men's 60kg | Bronze |
2026 | Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei | Men's 50kg | Gold |
2026 | Gunjan | Women's 48kg | Gold |
Related on Apex Sports News
Youth Olympics: India's Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei Storms Into Final Of Men's 50kg Boxing
Dakar Youth Olympics: Lairenlakpam and Gunjan reach boxing finals as India's fine run continues
Youth Olympics 2026: Gunjan secures another medal for India at Dakar Games
Sources
Topics
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or use the flag button above. Our editorial standards explain how we report.
Related stories
Discussion
Sign in or create a free account to join the discussion. Please follow our community guidelines.