Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei storms into Youth Olympics 50kg boxing final
Synopsis
Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei has swept every opponent he has faced in Dakar without dropping a single judge's card — and now stands one bout away from India's first Youth Olympics boxing gold. With Gunjan also in the Women's 48kg semis, India could be celebrating a boxing double at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics.
Key Takeaways
Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei beat Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo 5-0 unanimously to reach the Men's 50kg final at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar .
All five judges scored in Meetei's favour: 28-27, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26, 28-27 .
Meetei faces Ireland's Kristian Jubani in the gold medal bout; Jubani also won his semifinal 5-0 .
Gunjan has also assured India a medal in Women's 48kg boxing after a 5-0 quarterfinal win; she faces Lilly Bassett of Great Britain in the semis.
India's overall tally at the 2026 Youth Olympics stands at nine medals — 3 silver, 5 bronze — as of 11 November 2026 , with wrestling and swimming contributing.
Indian boxer Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei has advanced to the gold medal bout of the Men's 50kg boxing competition at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal, after a commanding 5-0 unanimous points victory over Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo in Wednesday's semifinal. The win guarantees India at least a silver medal in the event.
How the Semifinal Unfolded
Competing from the red corner, Meetei controlled the bout from start to finish, earning the nod from all five ringside judges. The scorecards read 28-27, 28-27, 28-27, 29-26, and 28-27 — a clean sweep that reflected his dominance over the Colombian challenger without a single dissenting card.
Meetei's Road to the Final
The Indian southpaw had been in imperious form throughout the tournament. He opened his campaign by stopping Namibia's Abraham Kalenga via Referee Stops Contest (RSC) at the 1:57 mark in Round 1, before dispatching Senegal's Faye Cheikh Ibrahima Fall 5-0 on points in the quarterfinals. Wednesday's semifinal win over Arevalo sealed his place in the gold medal fight.
The Final: Meetei vs Jubani
In the final, Meetei will face Kristian Jubani of Ireland, who also swept his semifinal against Mexico's Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano by an identical 5-0 scoreline. The clash promises to be a battle between two unbeaten boxers who have conceded no points across their respective campaigns in Dakar.
India's Boxing Double Act in Dakar
Meetei is not India's only boxing hope at these Games. Gunjan has also secured a medal in the Women's 48kg category after beating Mexico's Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in the quarterfinals. Gunjan, who received a bye in the opening round, next faces Lilly Bassett of Great Britain in the semifinals. A loss would still return her with a bronze. This marks the second medal India has locked in boxing at the Youth Olympics.
India's Overall Medal Tally at the 2026 Youth Olympics
India's performance in Dakar has been noteworthy across disciplines. As of the morning session on 11 November 2026, the country's tally stands at nine medals — comprising three silver and five bronze — with wrestling and swimming the other contributing sports. The two boxing medals, once confirmed, will further bolster that count. Notably, this is shaping up as one of India's stronger Youth Olympics showings in recent memory.
Point of View
Zero cards dropped — is the kind of form that separates medal hopes from genuine gold contenders. What makes this significant beyond the scorecards is the geography: a boxer from Manipur on the global youth stage is a reminder that Indian combat sports depth extends well beyond the established academies. With Gunjan also in the mix, India's boxing programme in Dakar looks more organised than opportunistic. The real question is whether the federation converts this Youth Olympics momentum into a structured pathway toward Paris 2028 and Los Angeles 2032 — something India has historically struggled to do after junior success.
NationPress
11 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei and what did he achieve at the 2026 Youth Olympics?
Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei is an Indian boxer competing in the Men's 50kg category at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal. He reached the gold medal final on 11 November 2026 after beating Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo 5-0, guaranteeing India at least a silver medal.
Who will Meetei face in the Youth Olympics 50kg boxing final?
Meetei will face Kristian Jubani of Ireland in the final. Jubani reached the bout by defeating Mexico's Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano 5-0 in the other semifinal.
What is India's medal tally at the 2026 Summer Youth Olympics so far?
India had accumulated nine medals — three silver and five bronze — as of the morning session on 11 November 2026, with contributions from wrestling and swimming. The two confirmed boxing medals will add to this total.
How did Meetei perform in earlier rounds before the semifinal?
Meetei stopped Namibia's Abraham Kalenga via Referee Stops Contest (RSC) at 1:57 in Round 1, then beat Senegal's Faye Cheikh Ibrahima Fall 5-0 in the quarterfinals before his unanimous 5-0 semifinal win.
What is the status of India's other boxer, Gunjan, at the 2026 Youth Olympics?
Gunjan has secured at least a bronze medal in the Women's 48kg category after beating Mexico's Atena Sofia Juarez Calero 5-0 in the quarterfinals. She next faces Lilly Bassett of Great Britain in the semifinals, with a win putting her in the gold medal bout.
