Youth Olympics: In Dakar, Ambekar and Gunjan herald a new boxing dawn

When the final bell rang in Dakar on Thursday, it probably marked a breakthrough moment for Indian sport. In a historic Youth Olympics campaign that yielded 10 medals for India from 17 athletes, boxing provided the brightest spark as Ambekar Meetei claimed India's first-ever gold medal in the sport, an achievement that was soon followed by Gunjan to complete a remarkable double.

For Ambekar, however, the magnitude of the achievement was still sinking in. "It still feels like a dream. I want to thank my family, my coaches and everyone in India who supported me. This medal is for my country," said the Manipur boxer after winning the men's 50kg title.

The triumph was far from straightforward. Ambekar lost the opening round on all five judges' scorecards and suddenly found himself chasing the contest. "I told myself not to panic. My coaches asked me to stay calm, move closer and throw fast combinations. I knew there were still two rounds left, so I decided to give my 100% and fight back," he recalled.

The turning point arrived in the second round when a standing count swung the momentum in his favour. "After losing the first round, that punch gave me a lot of confidence. It put pressure on my opponent and helped me take control," said Ambekar after being Ireland's Kristian Jubani.

The comeback reflected a quality his coach Vijay Kumar Sharma believes defines the teenager. "Ambekar's fighting spirit and willpower stood out throughout the tournament. He is tactically excellent and follows instructions inside the ring with remarkable discipline," Sharma said. "Even after losing the first round, he never lost belief and came back with a strong mindset. That resilience under pressure is what impressed me the most about him."

For Ambekar, who hails from Imphal East, the gold was not only a career-defining victory but also the start of something bigger including a journey towards the Los Angeles Olympics.

If Ambekar opened the golden chapter, Gunjan ensured it ended on an equally historic note. The youngster became India's first female Youth Olympic boxing gold medallist. Like Ambekar, her success was built on preparation and composure. "Before the final, I was focused on my game plan. I knew exactly how I wanted to box and what I needed to do inside the ring. My main aim was to have belief in myself and remain confident," said Gunjan, who won the women's 48kg title with a victory over Algeria's Bouthaina Bensalah.

For Gunjan, the achievement carried significance beyond the medal itself. "It is a special moment for me and for the country. Winning this gold medal and creating history for India is a dream come true."

Their victories formed the centrepiece of India's most successful Youth Olympic boxing campaign, contributing to a 10-medal haul that included two gold, three silver and five bronze medals. More importantly, Ambekar and Gunjan delivered something numbers cannot fully capture. In Dakar, they showed that Indian boxing's next generation is no longer merely dreaming of the Olympic podium. It is already climbing onto it.