Asian Boxing Sets Sights on Gold as Nine Boxers Prepare for Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Finals

Nine Asian boxers from six nations will compete for gold at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games on Thursday, November 12, following the conclusion of the semifinals at the Dakar Expo Center.

Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Japan will be represented across the two final sessions, with Asian Boxing aiming to conclude the Youth Olympic competition with a strong medal haul.

Kazakhstan secured two finalists during Wednesday’s semifinals. Aknur Tursyngali defeated Ukraine’s Yevanhelina Petruk by a 4:1 split decision in the women’s 57kg division, while Bibarys Ashirbay recorded a commanding 5:0 victory over Mexico’s Jorge Luis Nieblas Gutierrez in the men’s 70kg category.

India’s Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam advanced to the men’s 50kg final following a 5:0 unanimous decision victory over Colombia’s Izzon Jeffrey Galea Arevalo.

Thailand’s Siwa Chainarong also delivered an impressive performance, defeating Türkiye’s Muhammet Ali Arli by unanimous decision (5:0) to reach the men’s 60kg final.

China’s Zhang Zhengkun and the UAE’s Mohamed Moaaz concluded their campaigns with bronze medals following semifinal defeats. Zhang lost to Puerto Rico’s Jesfred Joel Torres Santiago in the men’s 60kg division, while Moaaz was defeated by Great Britain’s Michael Maughan in the men’s 70kg category.

Moaaz’s achievement marks a historic Youth Olympic boxing medal for the UAE.

Asian Boxers in the Finals – November 12

Session 11 – 12:00 PM (Dakar Time)

– Women’s 57kg: Aknur Tursyngali (KAZ) vs Sara Campos (BRA)
– Men’s 50kg: Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam (IND) vs Kristian Jubani (IRL)
– Men’s 60kg: Siwa Chainarong (THA) vs Jesfred Joel Torres Santiago (PUR)
– Men’s 70kg: Bibarys Ashirbay (KAZ) vs Michael Maughan (GBR)

Session 12 – 5:00 PM (Dakar Time)

– Women’s 48kg: Gunjan Gunjan (IND) vs Bouthaina Bensalah (ALG)
– Women’s 54kg: Sabrina Chakomanova (UZB) vs Evelin Trejos Salas (COL)
– Women’s 60kg: Rushanabonu Isoeva (UZB) vs Karolina Kollarova (SVK)
– Men’s 65kg: Kenshin Sakuno (JPN) vs Artur Eytan Prohnevsky (ISR)

Azerbaijan’s Gular Huseynova will also contest the women’s 51kg final against Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in Session 11.

With nine Asian boxers competing for Youth Olympic titles, the final day presents another opportunity to showcase the continent’s emerging talent and continued development in Olympic-style boxing.

Athletes First, Integrity Always.