Indian Boxer Gunjan Secures Final Spot at Youth Olympics in Dakar
Gunjan shines at the Youth Olympics, defeating Lily Bassett 4-1 to reach the final in womens boxing.
Dakar, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : Indian boxer Gunjan has advanced to the finals of the women’s 48 kg category at the Summer Youth Olympics 2026 in Dakar. Her impressive performance in the semifinals saw her defeat Great Britain’s Lily Bassett with a score of 4-1, igniting hopes for a gold medal for India.
This victory marks Gunjan as the second Indian boxer to reach the final in this event. The judges scored the match in her favor with scores of 30-27, 29-28, 28-29, 29-28, and 30-27, showcasing her dominance in the bout.
In the final, Gunjan will face Algeria’s Bouhaina Bensalah, who secured her place by narrowly defeating Italy’s Michela Gugliemlone 3-2 in a competitive semifinal.
Gunjan’s journey to the semifinals included a decisive 5-0 victory over Mexico’s Athena Sofia Juarez Calero in the quarterfinals, ensuring her a medal for India. She had initially received a bye in the first round, propelling her directly into the quarterfinals.
In another exciting development, Larenlalakpam Ambedkar Meitei has also reached the finals in the men’s 50 kg category, becoming the first Indian boxer to do so at the ongoing Youth Olympics. Meitei triumphed over Colombia’s Izon Jeffrey Galia Arevalo with a commanding 5-0 score in the semifinals.
Playing from the ‘red corner,’ Meitei maintained control throughout the match, with judges scoring it 28-27, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26, and 28-27 in his favor. He will face Ireland’s Christian Jubani in the final, who defeated Mexico’s Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano 5-0 in the other semifinal.
The excitement continues to build as these young athletes represent India on the international stage.
