Indian Boxers L Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan Win Historic Gold Medals at Dakar Youth Olympics
Indian boxers Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and Gunjan secured historic gold medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal on Thursday, according to NDTV. The victories marked the first time Indian pugilists claimed gold medals in boxing at the Youth Olympic Games, opening the nation's gold medal account at the Dakar competition. With both athletes topping the podium in their respective weight divisions, the two-member Indian boxing squad maintained an unblemished 100% medal conversion rate. The twin triumphs elevated India's overall standing on the international medal table, jumping from 58th position to 16th place with two gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.
Ambekar Meetei Men's 50kg Gold Bout
In the men's 50kg final at the Dakar Expo Center, designated as Bout #97, Ambekar Meetei edged past Ireland's Kristian Jubani in a closely fought contest. The Manipuri fighter prevailed via a 3-2 split decision, with three judges awarding him the victory while two favored his Irish opponent. Ambekar, who trains at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala, had previously stopped Namibia's Abraham Kalenga in the quarterfinals and defeated Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo 5-0 in the semifinals. His championship triumph ended a 16-year wait for an Indian Youth Olympics boxing champion, surpassing the silver medal won by Shiva Thapa in 2010. The athlete originates from Dhana Kalan village within Haryana's Hansi district and prepares at the Manjeet Lohan Boxing Club located in Hisar, according to Olympics.com.
Gunjan Women's 48kg Unanimous Decision
Shortly after Ambekar's victory, Haryana boxer Gunjan produced a dominant performance to claim the women's 48kg gold medal against Algeria's Bouthaina Bensalah. Gunjan controlled all three rounds at the Dakar Expo Center, securing a unanimous 5-0 decision with all five ringside judges scoring the contest 30-27 in her favor. The victory established Gunjan as India's first female boxer to win a gold medal in the history of the Youth Olympic Games. Her path to the final included a 5-0 quarterfinal win over Mexico's Atena Sofia Juarez Calero and a 4-1 semifinal triumph against Great Britain's Lily Bassett. Great Britain's Lily Bassett had defeated Gunjan 5-0 in the women's 48kg final at the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, according to Olympics.com.
Historical Milestones and National Talent Pipeline
Boxing Federation of India President Ajay Singh praised the achievements as an exceptional milestone for Indian combat sports. Singh noted that the victories illustrate the depth of emerging athletic talent developing across national grassroots programs and junior international championships. Prior to the Dakar finals, India's previous boxing medals at the Youth Olympics were achieved at the inaugural 2010 Games in Singapore, where Vikas Krishan secured bronze. The dual gold medals strengthen India's reputation as an emerging international boxing powerhouse capable of delivering podium finishes across major global multisport competitions. Boxing decided 10 gold medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Thursday, 12 November, according to Olympics.com.