India’s next generation of boxing stars continued to light up the ring at the Asian Youth Games 2025, producing one of the most dominant collective performances in recent memory.
With five boxers storming into the finals from the morning session and two more semifinal bouts still to come in the evening, Indian boxing’s depth and discipline were on full display. The day began with a perfect run from the Indian contingent six semifinal wins, all by unanimous 5-0 verdicts except Ahaana who won by split underscoring India’s growing technical confidence and mental toughness on the continental stage.
The girls led the charge with exceptional poise and precision.
In the 46kg category, Khushi Chand showcased her superior ring craft, outclassing her Mongolian opponent in a clean 5-0 decision. Using her speed and footwork to control distance, Khushi dictated the tempo throughout, leaving no room for counterattacks. In the 54kg division, Chandrika Pujari followed suit, defeating her Kazakh rival 5-0. Chandrika’s controlled aggression and sharp jabs kept her opponent constantly on the defensive, making it one of India’s most convincing wins of the day.
The rising Harnoor Kaur (66kg), who began her campaign directly from the semifinals, made a strong statement of her own. Facing a tough Taiwanese boxer, Harnoor combined tactical intelligence with sustained pressure, sealing a 5-0 win that reflected both composure and endurance. In the +80kg heavyweight bout, Anshika delivered perhaps the most remarkable win of the morning, overpowering her Chinese opponent 5-0. Her ability to dominate in close exchanges and control the center of the ring marked her as one of the most promising young heavyweights in the women’s division.
Among the boys, M. Lanchenba Singh (50kg) continued his impressive run with another dominant 5-0 win, this time against his North Korean opponent. Lanchenba’s speed and defensive awareness have stood out throughout the tournament, making him a strong favorite for gold in his category. By the end of the morning session, India had five boxers through to the finals, all unbeaten and untested in their semifinal bouts a rare show of complete control on a big stage, and one more entered in the evening session
India’s success story in boxing at the Asian Youth Games began a round earlier, where several promising names clinched semifinal spots and, in the process, guaranteed medals for the country. In the quarterfinals, Lanchenba Singh (50kg) had earlier beaten his Thai opponent 4-1, while Anant Deshmukh (66kg) won his bout via Referee Stops Contest (RSC), displaying power and precision that forced the referee’s hand. Both secured semifinal berths and ensured India at least bronze medals before their next bouts.
Among the girls, four young boxers sealed medals in the earlier rounds with commanding wins. Khushi Chand (46kg) outpunched her Saudi Arabian opponent via RSC, while Ahaana Sharma (50kg) followed suit against Bhutan, both winning by early stoppages. Chandrika Pujari (54kg) dominated Japan’s representative 5-0, and Anshika (80+kg) edged past Uzbekistan’s boxer in a close 3-2 split decision to enter the semifinals.
These results brought India’s total to seven confirmed boxing medals, including four in the girls’ categories and three among the boys a testament to the balance of talent across weight classes.
India’s boxing federation’s investment in youth development has begun to bear fruit. The consistent performances at this edition of the Asian Youth Games underline the strength of India’s pipeline young athletes displaying not just physical strength, but also technical maturity. The pattern of victories multiple unanimous decisions and referee stoppages indicates a strategic evolution in India’s approach. Under the guidance of national youth coaches, these boxers have developed adaptability and ring intelligence beyond their years.
Coaches credited the Youth High-Performance Camps and domestic circuit competitions like the Sub-Junior Nationals for building a robust competitive environment. The exposure gained through international training exchanges and scientific conditioning has also been crucial to this turnaround.
Each of the seven confirmed medalists represents a future cornerstone of Indian boxing. Whether it’s the light-footed precision of Khushi, the controlled aggression of Chandrika, the composure of Harnoor, or the sheer power of Anshika the new generation of Indian women’s boxing looks well-prepared to carry forward the legacy built by the likes of Mary Kom, Lovlina Borgohain, and Nikhat Zareen.
On the boys’ side, Lanchenba Singh’s calm dominance and Anant Deshmukh’s explosive style have injected renewed optimism into India’s men’s program, which is rebuilding strongly at the youth level.
As the finals approach, one thing is clear India’s young boxers are not just winning bouts; they’re defining a new era for Indian boxing.
Summary of Indian Finalists (So Far):
Girls 46kg – Khushi Chand
Girls 50kg – Ahaana
Girls 54kg – Chandrika Pujari
Girls 66kg – Harnoor Kaur
Girls +80kg – Anshika
Boys 50kg – M. Lanchenba Singh
With one more semifinals to go, the dream of multiple gold medals looks within reach and India’s young pugilists are ready to seize it.
