Lakshay Phogat reaches final as India secures five medals at Asian U17 Boxing Championships
Synopsis
Lakshay Phogat's dominant 5:0 semifinal win propels him to the Asian U17 Boxing Championships final, but India's boys' team faced a difficult day with four boxers settling for bronze. The girls' contingent stole the show, advancing eight finalists—a stark contrast highlighting the depth of India's emerging female boxing talent at the junior level.
Key Takeaways
Lakshay Phogat defeated Seungmin Lee of South Korea 5:0 in the 75kg semifinal to reach the final.
Four Indian boys— Narendra Nella , Yash Yadav , Nivesh Pal , and Naman —secured bronze medals after semifinal losses.
Eight Indian girls advanced to the finals, including Rakhi , Khushi Chand , Navya , Diya , Himanshi , Jyoti , and Vanshika .
Four girls— Mamta Murlidhar Raut , Laxmi Manjunath Lamani , Ishika , and Harnoor Kaur —earned bronze medals.
India's U-17 contingent has secured a combined nine medals heading into the finals on 12 May 2026 .
Lakshay Phogat advanced to the final of the Asian Boxing U17 Championships 2026 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, with a commanding 5:0 victory over Seungmin Lee of South Korea in the 75kg semifinal on 12 May. The Indian U-17 boys' contingent, however, faced a tough day overall, with four other boxers settling for bronze medals after semifinal defeats.
Boys' Team Performance
Narendra Nella (46kg) lost 0:5 to Abdulloh Nuraliev of Uzbekistan, securing a bronze medal. Yash Yadav (50kg) fell short by a 1:4 margin against Suld Usukhbaatar of Mongolia, also claiming bronze. Nivesh Pal (54kg) suffered a 0:5 defeat to Abdulbosit Yursunboev of Uzbekistan, and Naman (70kg) narrowly lost 2:3 to Abduvohid Abdumajidov of Uzbekistan. All four finalists who did not advance earned bronze medals by virtue of reaching the semifinals.
Girls' Team Dominance
India's U-17 girls' team delivered a standout performance, with eight boxers advancing to the finals. Rakhi (46kg) secured an RSC (Referee Stopped Contest) victory in the third round against Yating Zhang of China. Khushi Chand (48kg) posted a commanding 5:0 win over Mungunzul Altamgadasa of Mongolia.
Navya (57kg) advanced via RSC in the second round against Dagiimaa Chuluutumur of Mongolia. Diya (63kg) dominated with a first-round RSC victory over Jia-En Song of Chinese Taipei. Himanshi (70kg) won by RSC in the first round against Jude Habi of Jordan. Jyoti (75kg) progressed with an RSC win in the first round against Cheng-Hui Zou of Chinese Taipei. Vanshika (80kg) registered a 4:1 victory over Feruzabonu Kamolova of Uzbekistan.
Semifinal Setbacks for Girls
Mamta Murlidhar Raut (52kg) lost 0:5 to Yaxin Qiu of China, securing bronze. Laxmi Manjunath Lamani (54kg) fell 1:4 to Kumriniso Muhammadova of Uzbekistan, also earning a bronze medal. Ishika (60kg) lost a closely contested 2:3 bout to Balym Gabitkyzy of Kazakhstan, and Harnoor Kaur (66kg) went down 0:5 against Ayaulym Ospanova of Kazakhstan.
Road Ahead
The Indian contingent has secured a combined nine medals (one finalist, eight additional finalists, and four bronze medals from the boys' team) heading into the finals. The U-17 girls' team will look to convert their eight final berths into gold medals, while Lakshay Phogat will aim for the championship in the boys' 75kg category.
Point of View
Four bronze medals, and one final. The girls' team, by contrast, has delivered a masterclass in tactical boxing and conditioning, with eight finalists across weight classes. This disparity reflects India's investment in women's boxing over the past four years, a strategic shift that is now bearing fruit at the junior level. The finals will reveal whether this cohort can translate semifinal dominance into gold.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Lakshay Phogat perform in his semifinal?
Lakshay Phogat defeated South Korea's Seungmin Lee 5:0 in the 75kg semifinal on 12 May 2026, securing his place in the Asian U17 Boxing Championships final in Tashkent.
How many Indian boxers reached the finals?
Nine Indian boxers advanced to the finals: Lakshay Phogat (boys' 75kg) and eight girls—Rakhi (46kg), Khushi Chand (48kg), Navya (57kg), Diya (63kg), Himanshi (70kg), Jyoti (75kg), and Vanshika (80kg).
Which Indian boxers won bronze medals?
Four boys—Narendra Nella (46kg), Yash Yadav (50kg), Nivesh Pal (54kg), and Naman (70kg)—and four girls—Mamta Murlidhar Raut (52kg), Laxmi Manjunath Lamani (54kg), Ishika (60kg), and Harnoor Kaur (66kg)—secured bronze medals after semifinal defeats.
What was the highlight of India's girls' boxing performance?
India's U-17 girls' team advanced eight finalists, with dominant victories including RSC wins by Rakhi, Navya, Diya, Himanshi, and Jyoti, showcasing strong technical and conditioning levels across multiple weight categories.
