India's Gunjan, L. Ambekar Meitei to box at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics
Synopsis
India has confirmed two boxing berths at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games — Haryana's Gunjan in Women's 48kg and Manipur's L. Ambekar Meitei in Men's 50kg. Both qualified via silver medals at the U19 World Boxing Future Cup. The Dakar edition is a landmark: the first IOC event ever held on African soil, delayed four years by the pandemic.
Key Takeaways
Gunjan (Haryana, Women's 48kg ) and L.
Ambekar Meitei (Manipur, Men's 50kg ) will represent India in boxing at Dakar 2026 .
Both athletes qualified by winning silver medals at the qualifying championship under World Boxing's eligibility framework.
The boxing competition runs 7–12 November 2026 at the Dakar Exhibition Centre, Diamniadio , featuring 116 boxers from 77 NOCs .
India has won one silver and one bronze in boxing at all previous Summer Youth Olympic editions combined.
Dakar 2026 ( 31 October – 13 November ) is the first IOC event on African soil and the fourth Youth Olympics overall, delayed from 2022 by COVID-19.
Boxer Gunjan from Haryana in the Women's 48kg category and L. Ambekar Meitei from Manipur in the Men's 50kg category will carry the Indian flag in boxing at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, set to be held in Senegal from 31 October to 13 November 2026. Both athletes secured their berths by winning silver medals at the qualifying championship, earning India two of the sport's available quotas — one in each gender category.
How India Qualified
Under the eligibility criteria set for Dakar 2026, boxers were required to have competed in the U19 World Boxing Future Cup held in the first quarter of 2026. Additionally, their respective National Boxing Federations had to be affiliated with World Boxing. India's selections met both conditions, with Gunjan and Ambekar Meitei earning their places on the strength of their performances at the qualifying event.
Scale of the Boxing Competition
The boxing competition at Dakar 2026 will run from 7 to 12 November at the Dakar Exhibition Centre in Diamniadio. A total of 116 boxers representing 77 National Olympic Committees will contest across five weight categories each for men and women. The men's divisions are 50kg, 55kg, 60kg, 65kg and 70kg, while the women's divisions cover 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg and 60kg. Notably, boxing has featured at every edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games since its inaugural staging in Singapore in 2010.
India's Youth Olympic Boxing Record
India has claimed one silver and one bronze medal in boxing at the Summer Youth Olympic Games through the 2018 edition. The country has grown into a notable force in international boxing, with medals at the Summer Olympic Games, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games underscoring the programme's depth across age groups.
Historic Significance of Dakar 2026
The 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games mark the fourth edition of the event, which debuted in Singapore in 2010. Originally planned for 22 October to 9 November 2022, the Games were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled over a 14-day window. The Dakar edition is historically significant as the first International Olympic Committee (IOC) event to be staged on the African continent and the first Youth Olympic Games under the presidency of IOC President Kirsty Coventry. With both Gunjan and Ambekar Meitei now confirmed, India heads into the competition with realistic medal hopes given its recent international boxing pedigree.
Point of View
One silver and one bronze across three editions of the Youth Olympics is a modest return for a nation that considers boxing a medal-certainty sport. The real measure of progress at Dakar will be whether either boxer can convert qualification form into a podium finish, and whether the selectors' process — tied to a single qualifying event — is robust enough to catch the country's best young talent.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who will represent India in boxing at the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympics?
Gunjan from Haryana will compete in the Women's 48kg category, and L. Ambekar Meitei from Manipur will compete in the Men's 50kg category. Both secured their spots by winning silver medals at the qualifying championship.
When and where is the boxing competition at Dakar 2026?
The boxing competition is scheduled from 7 to 12 November 2026 at the Dakar Exhibition Centre in Diamniadio, Senegal. The broader Games run from 31 October to 13 November 2026.
How did India's boxers qualify for Dakar 2026?
India's boxers qualified by winning silver medals at the U19 World Boxing Future Cup held in the first quarter of 2026. Eligibility also required the national federation to be affiliated with World Boxing.
Why is Dakar 2026 historically significant?
It is the first IOC event ever to be held on the African continent and the first Youth Olympic Games under IOC President Kirsty Coventry. Originally planned for 2022, the Games were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is India's boxing record at previous Summer Youth Olympic Games?
India has won one silver medal and one bronze medal in boxing across all Summer Youth Olympic editions through 2018. The country has been a consistent performer in boxing at senior-level events including the Olympics, Asian Games, and Commonwealth Games.
