The boxing programme at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games concluded on Thursday, 12 November, with ten gold medals decided across the final sessions. The competition brought together young athletes from different regions and gave several national teams a chance to celebrate milestone results on a major international stage.
India and Ireland contest a close final
One of the headline bouts came in the men’s 50kg final, where India’s Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam defeated Ireland’s Kristian Jubani by a 3–2 split decision. The judges’ scores reflected a close contest, with the result providing India with its first gold medal of Dakar 2026 in the boxing programme.
The final was important for both teams. India gained a title in a competitive division, while Ireland took a silver medal and continued its presence in the tournament’s medal story.
Uzbekistan claims a women’s gold
Uzbekistan’s Sabrina Chakomanova won the women’s 54kg final against Colombia’s Evelin Trejos Salas by a unanimous 5–0 decision. The victory gave Uzbekistan a first gold medal at these Youth Olympic Games and added to Chakomanova’s earlier success at the Asian Championships.
Other finals-day medal stories included athletes representing Venezuela, Puerto Rico and Great Britain. The IOC’s reports highlighted the broad spread of countries reaching the podium, reflecting the global reach of the youth competition.
Why youth boxing matters
Youth events provide athletes with international experience and a pathway to understand the standards of major multi-sport competitions. Results at this level should be viewed as milestones in development rather than predictions of future senior careers. Coaching, education, athlete welfare and long-term support remain essential to helping young competitors progress safely and sustainably.
Dakar’s tournament also gave national federations a chance to measure their development programmes against a wider field. For supporters, the medal outcomes showed that boxing talent is emerging from many regions, not only traditional powerhouses.
What comes next
The focus now moves from Dakar to national development programmes, continental championships and the next steps in the Olympic pathway. Athletes will return to their federations with valuable experience, while coaches can use the tournament to identify areas for continued technical development.
Sources:
- IOC Newsroom — Dakar 2026 boxing finals: https://newsroom.olympics.com/record/3933
- IOC Newsroom — Uzbekistan and Georgia celebrate gold medals: https://newsroom.olympics.com/record/3934