Indian boxer Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei made history by securing the country’s first-ever boxing gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games, defeating Ireland’s Kristian Jubani in the men’s 50kg final at the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal. The young boxer claimed a narrow 3-2 split-decision victory, marking a significant milestone for Indian boxing on the international stage.
Hailing from Manipur and training at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, Ambekar delivered an impressive performance throughout the tournament. He began his journey to the title with a first-round stoppage victory over Namibia’s Abraham Kalenga in the quarterfinals before registering a commanding 5-0 win against Colombia’s Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo in the semifinals. In the championship bout, he overcame a closely contested challenge from Jubani to secure the historic gold medal.
Ambekar’s achievement ended India’s wait for a boxing gold medal at the Youth Olympics since the competition was introduced at the inaugural Games in Singapore in 2010. India’s previous notable performances included Shiva Thapa’s silver medal in the men’s 60kg category and Vikas Krishan’s bronze medal at the same edition. Ambekar’s victory established a new benchmark for the country’s emerging boxing talent.
India’s celebrations continued when Gunjan captured the women’s 48kg gold medal, defeating Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah by a unanimous 5-0 decision. Her victory made her India’s first female boxing gold medalist at the Youth Olympics, completing a historic double for the national boxing contingent. Together, Ambekar and Gunjan became the first Indian male and female boxers to win Youth Olympic gold medals.
The two victories represent a major achievement for India’s youth boxing programme and highlight the country’s growing pool of promising athletes. Their performances in Dakar have strengthened India’s record in international youth competitions and raised expectations for the next generation of Indian boxers preparing to compete at the senior level.
