World Boxing U-19 Championships: Aditya Wins Gold as India Finishes With Four Medals

Aditya defeats Russia’s Islam Magomedov 4-1 in the men’s 55kg final, while Megha Sheokand claims silver in the women’s 80kg category as India concludes its campaign in Montenegro with one gold, one silver and two bronze medals.

India’s Aditya emerged as the men’s 55kg champion at the 2026 World Boxing U-19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro, delivering a comeback victory against Russia’s Islam Magomedov in the final on Tuesday. The Asian U-19 silver medallist overcame a difficult opening round to secure a 4-1 verdict and give India its gold medal at the championships.

India finished the competition with four medals, comprising one gold, one silver and two bronze. Megha Sheokand secured the silver medal in the women’s 80kg category, while Harshika and Prachi Tokas added bronze medals in the women’s 65kg and 80+kg categories, respectively.

Aditya’s victory capped an impressive campaign in which he demonstrated his ability to respond under pressure and deliver when the stakes were highest.

The men’s 55kg final against Magomedov presented Aditya with a demanding test. The Indian boxer narrowly lost the opening round and found himself trailing 3-2 on the judges’ scorecards.

Rather than allowing the early setback to dictate the contest, Aditya raised his level in the subsequent rounds. He secured the next round 4-1, shifting the momentum in his favour and strengthening his belief that the world title was within reach.

The Indian maintained his composure through the remainder of the bout to earn a 4-1 verdict and claim the championship. Reflecting on the victory, Aditya explained how the change in momentum influenced his confidence.

“I was trailing 3-2 after the first round, but I stepped it up to take the next one 4-1. That’s when the belief hit me that I could win this bout,” he said. The boxer also acknowledged the role of the Indian coaching staff and his teammates in helping him prepare for the competition.

“I’m truly grateful to all the coaches and my teammates here at the World Championships in Montenegro their support throughout the camp made all the difference,” Aditya added. The victory represents a significant achievement for the Asian U-19 silver medallist, who converted his continental-level experience into a world championship title. His ability to recover from an unfavourable start in the final was central to securing India’s gold medal.

Aditya had booked his place in the gold-medal bout with a convincing performance against Azerbaijan’s Nihat Gasimov in the semifinals on Sunday. The Indian was in control throughout the three rounds, earning a unanimous 5-0 verdict from the judges. The result confirmed his place in the final against Magomedov and set up a contest between two boxers competing for the men’s 55kg title.

His semifinal display provided a strong foundation for the final, where he again demonstrated the ability to compete effectively against international opposition. Although the championship bout began with a narrow setback, Aditya adjusted his performance and recovered to finish the tournament at the top of the podium.

His gold medal was the highlight of India’s campaign in Budva and ensured the team ended the championships with a title to accompany its three other podium finishes.

India’s hopes of securing a second gold medal ended when Megha Sheokand lost the women’s 80kg final against Russia’s Ekaterina Frolova. Megha was defeated 0-5 in the summit clash, earning the silver medal after an otherwise successful run through the competition.

The Indian boxer had reached the final with an emphatic semifinal performance against Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Chynybekova. Megha won the contest by referee-stopped contest (RSC), securing her place in the gold-medal bout. However, she could not reproduce that result against Frolova in the final, as the Russian boxer secured a unanimous verdict.

Despite the defeat, Megha’s silver medal contributed to India’s overall tally and marked a podium finish in the women’s 80kg division.

Harshika and Prachi Tokas Add Bronze Medals

India’s campaign also included bronze medals for Harshika and Prachi Tokas. Harshika competed in the women’s 65kg semifinals against the United States’ Lauryn Elmore. In a closely fought encounter, Harshika lost 3-2, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. The result left her with a bronze medal.

Prachi Tokas secured India’s other bronze in the women’s 80+kg category after losing her semifinal bout. Although she could not progress to the gold-medal contest, her performance ensured another podium finish for the Indian team. The two bronze medals complemented Aditya’s gold and Megha’s silver, giving India a four-medal haul at the championships.

India’s performance at the 2026 World Boxing U-19 Championships featured success across four weight categories, with Aditya leading the way by winning the men’s 55kg title. His comeback victory against Magomedov provided the campaign’s defining moment, while Megha’s silver and the bronze medals won by Harshika and Prachi Tokas completed the Indian tally.

For Aditya, the championship represents a breakthrough achievement following his Asian U-19 silver medal. For the wider Indian contingent, the four-medal finish offers a positive conclusion to a competition that tested the country’s young boxers against international opponents.

India leaves Budva with a world champion in Aditya, a finalist in Megha and two additional bronze medallists, underlining the team’s presence across multiple women’s and men’s divisions.