India’s young boxing contingent delivered one of its finest performances at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in Bahrain, with three gold medals and one silver adding to the nation’s growing dominance in youth boxing.
The trio of Khushi Chand, Ahaana Sharma, and Chandrika Pujari clinched top honours in their respective weight categories, while Lanchenba Moibungkhongbam secured a well-earned silver in the boys’ 50kg division. The Indian team’s remarkable campaign, which had already seen six boxers reach the finals, concluded with an emphatic display of power, precision, and maturity from the nation’s next generation of pugilists.
Chandrika Pujari capped off India’s golden run with a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision win over Uzbekistan’s Muhammaddova in the girls’ 54kg final. The bout showcased Chandrika’s sharp footwork, composed defence, and relentless counter-punching a testament to her disciplined approach throughout the tournament.
Her path to the title was one of sheer dominance. She began her campaign with a clinical win over South Korea’s Choi via RSC (Referee Stopped Contest), before dismantling Japan’s Hatakeyama 5-0 in the quarterfinal. In the semifinals, she outclassed Kazakhstan’s Makhanova with another flawless 5-0 performance to set up the gold-medal clash.
In the final, Chandrika maintained her composure, controlling distance and pace effectively to earn a unanimous verdict from all five judges. The win marked India’s third gold medal in boxing at the Games and underlined the nation’s rising depth in women’s boxing at the youth level.
Khushi Chand strikes gold in 46kg category
Earlier, Khushi Chand set the tone for the day with a 4-1 split decision win over China’s Luo Jinxiu in the girls’ 46kg final. Displaying quick reflexes and superior ring craft, Khushi dominated the exchanges with precise jabs and controlled aggression. Her route to the top was nothing short of sensational. She opened her campaign with a 5-0 win over Jordan’s Al-Ramahi and followed it with a victory by RSC over Saudi Arabia’s Alshehri. In the semifinal, she outboxed Mongolia’s Altangadas 5-0 before finishing strong in the final against Luo.
Khushi’s consistency and calm under pressure stood out throughout the competition, making her one of India’s most promising young talents in the lighter weight divisions.
Ahaana Sharma delivers knockout performances
In the girls’ 50kg category, Ahaana Sharma produced a dominant display to win India’s second gold medal. She defeated DPR Korea’s Ma Jong Hyang via RSC (Referee Stopped Contest) sealing the bout emphatically before the final bell.
Ahaana’s campaign had been a story of dominance from start to finish. She opened with an RSC win over Kyrgyzstan’s Amantaieva, repeated the result in the quarters against Bhutan’s Peldon, and edged Uzbekistan’s Mardonova 3-2 in a tight semifinal. In the final, Ahaana showed no signs of fatigue, overwhelming her North Korean opponent with superior combinations and tactical sharpness to secure the top podium finish. Her performance reaffirmed India’s growing strength in the mid-weight youth divisions, where technique and power blend seamlessly in her style.
In the boys’ 50kg final, Lanchenba Moibungkhongbam put up a strong fight but fell short against Kazakhstan’s Nurmakhan, losing 0-5 to settle for the silver medal. Lanchenba had earlier been one of India’s most consistent performers in the tournament. He registered a string of impressive wins defeating Amaya of the Philippines (4-1), Khamrae of Thailand (4-1), and An of DPR Korea (5-0) before facing the Kazakh boxer in the final. Despite the loss, Lanchenba’s silver capped a fantastic campaign that saw him produce three dominant victories en route to the summit clash.
The trio of Khushi, Ahaana, and Chandrika becoming Asian Youth Games champions marks a historic chapter for Indian youth boxing. Their victories, coupled with Lanchenba’s silver, underscore India’s well-rounded strength across both men’s and women’s divisions. The national coaching setup, led by Vinod Kumar (boys’ head coach) and Jitender Raj Singh (girls’ head coach), has been instrumental in this success. Rigorous training at NS NIS Patiala, focused technical refinement, and increased exposure to international bouts have all contributed to the athletes’ poise and adaptability at this level.
As India closes its campaign with multiple medals including three golds and one silver the 2025 Asian Youth Games will be remembered as a defining milestone for the country’s next generation of boxers. With performances that combined courage, control, and clarity of purpose, these young champions have shown that the future of Indian boxing is in formidable hands.
