Gunjan scripts history, joins Ambekar Meetei in India’s Youth Olympics gold rush

India celebrated a historic day at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as Gunjan captured the women’s 48kg boxing gold medal, becoming the first Indian woman to win a boxing title at the Youth Olympics. Her remarkable achievement came just hours after Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei secured gold in the men’s 50kg category, giving India two boxing titles at the competition.

The 17-year-old defeated Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah by unanimous decision in the final on November 12. With her victory, Gunjan not only added another gold medal to India’s campaign but also became the country’s first female boxing medallist at the Youth Olympics, marking an important milestone for Indian women’s boxing.

Gunjan Makes History With Dominant Youth Olympics Final Victory

Gunjan delivered a composed and commanding performance against Bensalah in the women’s 48kg final. She controlled the contest across all three rounds, using effective boxing and consistent scoring to keep her Algerian opponent under pressure.

All five judges scored the bout 30-27 in favour of the Indian boxer, confirming a unanimous decision victory. Gunjan secured a 10-9 advantage in the opening round and maintained the same scoring margin in the second and third rounds.

The final score reflected her control throughout the contest. With no warnings or knockdowns recorded, Gunjan completed a convincing performance to secure the biggest title of her young career.

Her victory was particularly significant because no Indian woman had previously won a boxing gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games. The achievement also established her as India’s first female boxing medallist in the competition’s history.

From Bangkok Silver to Dakar Youth Olympics Gold

Gunjan’s historic success in Dakar followed an impressive campaign at the 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. The tournament served as the qualifying event for the Youth Olympics, and her performances there earned her a place at the Dakar competition.

She reached the Bangkok final after defeating North Korea’s Yu Gyong Kim by a commanding 5-0 decision in the semifinals. Although she eventually finished with a silver medal after losing to England’s Lily Bassett, the result secured her qualification for the Youth Olympics.

Gunjan carried that experience into Dakar and began her campaign with a bye in the opening round. She entered the quarterfinals on November 10, where she faced Mexico’s Atena Sofia Juarez Calero.

The Indian boxer produced another convincing performance, defeating Juarez Calero 5-0 to advance to the semifinals and guarantee herself at least a bronze medal.

Her next challenge came against Great Britain’s Lily Bassett on November 11. Gunjan responded strongly, winning the semifinal 4-1 and overcoming the same opponent who had defeated her in the Bangkok final.

That victory set up the gold-medal contest against Bensalah. Gunjan completed her journey with another impressive performance, turning her earlier disappointment in Bangkok into a historic Youth Olympics triumph.

Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei Also Wins Historic Boxing Gold

Gunjan’s achievement followed another major moment for Indian Boxing at Dakar 2026. Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei defeated Ireland’s Kristian Jubani in the men’s 50kg final to become the first Indian boxer to win a gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

The two victories made Thursday a memorable day for India’s young boxing contingent. Ambekar Meetei opened the historic run with his men’s title, before Gunjan added another gold medal in the women’s competition.

The results underline the growing achievements of India’s young boxers on the international stage. Gunjan’s success is especially important for the women’s programme, as it gives India its first female boxing gold medallist in Youth Olympics history.

India’s Medal Tally at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

Gunjan’s gold medal took India’s overall medal tally at the Dakar Youth Olympics to 11, comprising three gold, three silver and five bronze medals.

India’s three gold medals have come through Sresht Raju Mantena in equestrian, Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei in men’s boxing and Gunjan in women’s boxing.

Indian athletes have also collected silver medals across several disciplines. Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada secured silver in judo, Taniya won silver in beach wrestling, while Tanvi Patri finished with a silver medal in badminton.

India’s bronze-medal winners include Dhinidhi Desinghu, who claimed two medals in swimming, along with Tirthank Pegu in swimming, Shourya Ambure in athletics and Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu in wushu.

The country’s performance across different sports has added to an encouraging campaign for its young athletes. With two boxing gold medals now secured, India’s pugilists have made a significant contribution to the overall medal count.

Why Gunjan’s Gold Medal Is a Major Milestone for Indian Boxing

Gunjan’s victory represents more than an individual championship. Becoming the first Indian woman to win boxing gold at the Youth Olympics gives her a special place in the country’s sporting history and highlights the achievements of its emerging female boxers.

Her campaign also demonstrated the importance of learning from setbacks. After losing to Bassett in the Bangkok final, Gunjan faced the same opponent in Dakar and secured a semifinal victory before going on to win the gold medal.

At just 17, she has now achieved a major international milestone. Her performance in Dakar provides an encouraging moment for Indian boxing and adds another significant achievement to the country’s youth sports journey.

Conclusion

Gunjan has scripted history at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games by winning India’s first-ever women’s boxing gold medal in the competition. Her unanimous decision victory over Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah completed an impressive campaign that included victories over Mexico’s Atena Sofia Juarez Calero and Great Britain’s Lily Bassett.

Alongside Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei’s historic men’s 50kg gold, Gunjan’s triumph gave India two boxing titles at the Games. Her achievement also took India’s medal tally to 11, marking a memorable moment for the country’s young athletes and women’s boxing programme.