Indian Boxer Ambedkar Meitei Makes History with Gold at Youth Olympics
Ambedkar Meitei wins Indias first boxing gold medal at the 2026 Youth Olympics, defeating Irelands Christian Jubani in the final.
Dakar, November 12 (Daily Kiran) : Indian boxer Larenlakpam Ambedkar Meitei achieved a historic milestone at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar on November 12. The athlete from Manipur secured the gold medal in the men’s 50-kilogram weight category by defeating Ireland’s Christian Jubani with a score of 3-2. This victory marks Meitei as the first Indian boxer to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympics.
The final match was challenging for Meitei, who faced pressure after losing the first round, with all five judges favoring Jubani. However, he made a remarkable comeback in the second round, winning the approval of three judges and rejuvenating his chances in the competition. In the final round, Meitei further improved his performance, with four out of five judges scoring in his favor, ultimately clinching a 3-2 victory and the historic gold medal.
This achievement ended India’s wait for a gold medal at the Dakar Youth Olympics. Prior to this, Indian athletes had secured three silver and five bronze medals across various sports, including wrestling and swimming.
Meitei’s journey to the final was impressive. He started strong by defeating Namibia’s Abraham Kalenga with a referee-stopped contest decision in just 1:57 minutes. He maintained his dominance in the quarter-finals, winning decisively against Senegal’s Faye Sheikh Ibrahima Fall with a score of 5-0. In the semi-finals, Meitei continued his stellar performance, overpowering Colombia’s Eison Jeffrey Galia Arevalo with another 5-0 victory, securing his place in the gold medal match.
Meitei’s accomplishment adds a new chapter to India’s boxing history at the Youth Olympics. Previously, in the inaugural Youth Olympics held in Singapore in 2010, Shiv Thapa won a silver medal in the men’s 54-kilogram category, while Vikas Krishan earned a bronze in the men’s 60-kilogram category. Now, Meitei has taken a significant step forward, becoming the first Indian boxer to reach the top of the podium at the Youth Olympics.
