Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei Creates History, Reaches Men's 50kg Final at Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics

India's Lairenlakpam Ambekar Meetei has scripted a significant chapter in the country's youth boxing history, storming into the men's 50kg final at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games with a commanding 5-0 victory over Colombia's Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo in the semi-finals.

The victory guarantees Meetei at least a silver medal and ends India's 16-year wait for a male boxer to reach a Youth Olympic final. The Manipuri pugilist has become the first Indian boxer since Shiva Thapa at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010 to advance to the championship bout.

Meetei will now face Ireland's Kristian Jubani in Thursday's final, with the opportunity to become India's next Youth Olympic boxing champion.

Meetei produced an emphatic performance against Galea Arevalo to secure his place in the final. The unanimous 5-0 decision reflected the Indian boxer's control of the contest and his ability to deliver when the stakes were highest.

The Colombian had reached the semi-final stage before coming up against the Indian, but Meetei proved too strong on the day. His victory ensured that India's campaign in the men's 50kg category would conclude with a place on the podium.

For the young boxer from Manipur, the result represents an important breakthrough at an international multi-sport event. Reaching the final of a Youth Olympic competition requires navigating several demanding rounds, and Meetei has now positioned himself one victory away from the ultimate prize.

The assurance of at least a silver medal also makes his achievement particularly significant for Indian boxing, which has been waiting since 2010 for another male representative to reach this stage of the Youth Olympics.

The historical significance of Meetei's achievement lies in the long gap between India's two appearances in a Youth Olympic boxing final. Shiva Thapa was the last Indian boxer to reach the final, achieving the feat at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore in 2010. Sixteen years later, Meetei has matched that milestone in Dakar.

The comparison places the Manipuri boxer in a notable position within India's youth boxing journey. While India has continued to produce promising boxers across different age groups, reaching a Youth Olympic final has remained an elusive achievement for male competitors since Thapa's campaign.

Meetei's progress is therefore more than an individual result. It represents a breakthrough for the current generation of Indian youth boxers and provides another encouraging sign of the talent emerging from the country's boxing ecosystem.

Manipur Continues to Produce Boxing Talent

Meetei's achievement also adds to Manipur's reputation as an important centre for Indian boxing.

The state has produced several boxers who have represented India at major international competitions, and Meetei's run in Dakar provides another example of its contribution to the sport.

His performance against Galea Arevalo will give him confidence heading into the final, although the challenge will be different against an opponent who has also navigated the tournament's knockout stages.

The 5-0 semi-final result demonstrates the level Meetei has been able to produce under pressure. However, the final will demand another focused performance, with the opportunity to turn an assured silver medal into gold.

Meetei's final opponent will be Ireland's Kristian Jubani, who stands between the Indian and the Youth Olympic gold medal. The Indian will enter the contest knowing that he has already secured a place on the podium, but the opportunity to finish the tournament with a gold medal will provide an additional incentive.

A victory would make Meetei only the second Indian male boxer to reach a Youth Olympic final and would give the country another landmark result in the competition. More importantly, it would convert his impressive run into a championship-winning campaign.

The final will test his ability to reproduce the discipline and dthat helped him dominate the semi-final. At this stage, maintaining composure and executing his strategy will be crucial.

India's boxing campaign in Dakar has received a major boost through Meetei's performance. His 5-0 victory over Colombia's Galea Arevalo has secured a medal and brought an end to a 16-year wait for an Indian male boxer to reach the Youth Olympic final.

For Meetei, however, the job is not finished. The Manipuri boxer now has one final contest against Kristian Jubani, with the chance to add his name to India's Youth Olympic gold-medal history.

Whatever the outcome, reaching the final is already a defining achievement in his young career. A gold medal would make it even more memorable.