India’s golden run in boxing continued at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as Gunjan clinched the women’s 48kg gold medal with a commanding 5-0 victory over Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah in the final on Thursday. The Indian boxer dominated the contest at the Dakar Expo Center, with all five judges scoring the bout 30-27 in her favour.Gunjan maintained her composure and control throughout the three-round contest to secure a unanimous decision victory and add another gold to India’s boxing campaign.The victory came after Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei had scripted history earlier in the day by winning India’s first-ever Youth Olympics boxing gold in the men’s 50kg category. He defeated Ireland’s Kristian Jubani 3-2 in a closely contested final.
Gunjan’s dominant run to the gold medal
Gunjan enjoyed an impressive campaign in Dakar, maintaining an unbeaten record on her way to the top of the podium. After receiving a first-round bye, the Indian boxer began her campaign in the quarterfinals with a commanding 5-0 victory over Mexico’s Atena Sofia Juarez Calero to assure herself of a medal.She continued her impressive run in the semifinals, defeating Great Britain’s Lily Bassett 4-1 to book her place in the gold medal bout. The final against Bensalah proved to be another dominant performance from the Indian, who secured a unanimous 5-0 verdict to finish her campaign with the gold medal.
Bensalah’s journey to the final
Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah also produced an impressive run to reach the women’s 48kg final. She began her campaign with a 5-0 victory over Thailand’s Pemika Payungkasem in the round of 16 before defeating Nigeria’s Shukurat Mayowa by the same margin in the quarterfinals.Bensalah faced her toughest challenge in the semifinals against Italy’s Michela Guglielmon, eventually securing a narrow 3-2 split-decision victory to advance to the title clash. However, she could not overcome Gunjan in the final, settling for the silver medal after the Indian dominated the judges’ scorecards.
Ambekar scripts history with India’s first Youth Olympics boxing gold
Earlier, Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei created history by becoming India’s first-ever boxing gold medallist at the Youth Olympic Games. The Indian boxer defeated Ireland’s Kristian Jubani 3-2 in the men’s 50kg final after a closely fought contest, ending a 16-year wait for an Indian Youth Olympics boxing champion.
