Manipur boxer Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei wins India's first Youth Olympics boxing gold
The 50kg pugilist defeated Ireland's Kristian Jubani on points to secure India's first gold medal at the Dakar Youth Olympic Games.
Manipur boxer Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei won India's first-ever boxing gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games by defeating Ireland's Kristian Jubani in the men's 50kg final at the Dakar 2026 Games, according to Mathrubhumi and India Today.
Meetei secured a 3-2 points victory in a closely fought contest. After losing the first round to Jubani, who was awarded the round by all five judges, Meetei won the second round with three of the five judges scoring in his favour. He earned the verdict from four judges in the final round to clinch the gold.
The victory marks India's first gold medal at the ongoing Dakar edition, following three silver medals in badminton, judo and beach wrestling, and five bronze medals in swimming, the women's 100m hurdles and Wushu.
Meetei reached the final after a 5-0 unanimous decision victory over Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo in the semifinals. This win ended a 16-year wait for an Indian boxing finalist at the Youth Olympics.
India's previous boxing medals at the Youth Olympics include a silver by Shiv Thapa in the men's 54kg category and a bronze by Vikas Krishan in the men's 60kg event at the Singapore 2010 edition.