Historic Boxing Triumphs for India at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games

Gunjan Makes History with Gold Medal Win

In a remarkable achievement, Indian boxer Gunjan clinched the gold medal in the women's 48kg category at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, triumphing over Algeria's Bensalah Bouthaina with a decisive 5-0 score in the final held on Thursday.

This victory marks Gunjan as the first Indian woman to secure a boxing gold at the Youth Olympic Games, contributing to a historic golden double for Indian boxing, as both representatives from India emerged victorious.

Earlier in the day, Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei made headlines by becoming the first Indian boxer to win gold at the Youth Olympics, defeating Ireland's Jubani Kristian 3-2 in the men's 50kg final.

With both athletes achieving gold, India maintained a perfect success rate in boxing at this edition, as confirmed by a press release from the Boxing Federation of India (BFI).

India's Medal Tally at Dakar 2026

Gunjan's victory has elevated India's overall medal count at the Dakar 2026 Games to 10, which includes two gold, three silver, and five bronze medals.

Previously, India's best performance at the Youth Olympic Games was during the 2018 edition in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where the country secured 13 medals, comprising three gold, nine silver, and one bronze.

The ongoing campaign in Dakar has showcased several impressive performances across various sports.

Notable Performances Across Disciplines

In athletics, Shourya Ambure earned a bronze medal in the women's 100m hurdles, achieving a personal best of 13.59 seconds, thus becoming the first Indian woman to win an athletics medal at the Youth Olympic Games.

Wrestler Taniya also made history by securing India's first youth wrestling medal, claiming silver in the women's 75kg category after a close 1-2 defeat to China's Min Zhao in the final.

In judo, Khushbu Rajakbhai Darjada and Tanvi Patri in badminton both earned silver medals in their respective categories.

Swimming contributed significantly to India's medal tally, with Dhinidhi Desinghu winning bronze in both the women's 100m and 200m freestyle events, making her the first Indian athlete to achieve multiple medals in a single Youth Olympic Games.

Additionally, Tirthank Pegu secured bronze in the men's 200m butterfly, marking him as the first Indian male swimmer to win a medal in this event.

Rajkumari Lanchenbi Chanu also added to the medal count with a bronze in the women's changquan combined wushu event.

A Promising Future for Indian Sports

The two gold medals in boxing have significantly bolstered India's campaign in Dakar, bringing the total medal count to 10 as the young athletes strive for their best-ever performance at the Youth Olympic Games.