Lakshay Phogat reaches final at Asian U17 Boxing

India’s U-17 boys endured a mixed day at the Asian Boxing U17 Championships 2026 in Tashkent, with Lakshay Phogat emerging as the lone finalist from the contingent, while four other boxers concluded their campaigns with bronze medals following semifinal defeats.

On a day where several close contests went against India, Lakshay’s composed performance stood out, ensuring the country remains in contention for a gold medal in the boys’ division.

Competing in the 75kg category, Lakshay Phogat produced one of India’s most controlled performances of the day. Facing Seungmin Lee of Korea, Lakshay maintained consistency across all three rounds and secured a unanimous 5:0 decision.

From the opening exchanges, Lakshay dictated the tempo, combining effective footwork with clean punching. He kept his distance well and avoided unnecessary exchanges, ensuring that he remained ahead on all judges’ scorecards. His ability to control the bout without taking risks highlighted both maturity and tactical awareness.

With this result, Lakshay moves into the final as India’s only representative in the U-17 boys category, carrying the responsibility of converting the campaign into a gold medal.

Narendra Nella Falls in 46kg

In the 46kg division, Narendra Nella faced Uzbekistan’s Abdulloh Nuraliev in a difficult semifinal bout. Competing against a home boxer backed by strong crowd support, Narendra struggled to establish rhythm.

Nuraliev maintained pressure from the start, forcing Narendra onto the back foot. The Indian boxer found it difficult to land clean combinations, eventually going down 0:5 on points. Despite the defeat, Narendra’s run to the semifinals ensured a bronze medal finish.

Yash Yadav (50kg) was involved in one of the more competitive bouts of the day against Mongolia’s Suld Usukhbaatar. The match remained closely contested, with both boxers trading scoring punches.

However, the Mongolian boxer edged the bout on the judges’ cards, securing a 4:1 decision. Yash showed intent throughout but was unable to convert key moments into a scoring advantage. His campaign ends with a bronze medal, reflecting a steady run through the tournament.

In the 54kg category, Nivesh Pal came up against Abdulbosit Yursunboev of Uzbekistan. The bout proved challenging, with the Uzbek boxer controlling the pace and landing cleaner punches across rounds. Nivesh was unable to find a consistent rhythm and went down 0:5. While the result was one-sided, reaching the semifinals ensured Nivesh a place on the podium with a bronze medal.

The closest contest for India came in the 70kg category, where Naman faced Abduvohid Abdumajidov of Uzbekistan. The bout remained balanced throughout, with both boxers having phases of control. Naman showed resilience, matching his opponent in exchanges and maintaining composure under pressure. However, the judges awarded a narrow 3:2 decision in favour of the Uzbek boxer. The split decision reflected the competitiveness of the bout, but Naman had to settle for bronze.

The overall results highlight a day of fine margins for the Indian contingent. While Lakshay progressed with a clear win, the other bouts saw Indian boxers struggle to convert opportunities, especially against strong opponents from Uzbekistan and Mongolia.

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Four bronze medals underline the depth within the squad, but the absence of multiple finalists indicates areas where improvements are needed, particularly in handling high-pressure semifinal bouts.

With Lakshay Phogat now the only finalist, India’s attention turns to the gold medal bout. His performance so far suggests he has the ability to compete at the highest level in this age group. A gold medal would not only strengthen India’s medal tally but also underline the potential within the youth boxing setup. The tournament has already provided valuable exposure to the boxers, many of whom were competing at this level for the first time.

India’s U-17 boys’ campaign in Tashkent has produced a combination of progress and missed opportunities. Lakshay Phogat’s entry into the final stands out as the key positive, while four bronze medals reflect consistency across categories.

As the finals approach, the focus will be on converting this progress into a gold medal finish. Regardless of the final outcome, the performances in Tashkent provide a clear indication of the talent pipeline in Indian boxing and the work required to compete consistently at the continental level.