India had a strong showing at the Asian Under-15 and Under-17 Boxing Championships in Amman, Jordan, on Thursday, with five young boxers punching their way into the semifinals. The promising contingent includes three boys and two girls, each showcasing impressive form against tough international opponents.
In the Under-15 men’s division, Nelson Khwairakpam (55 kg) set the tone with a swift victory, overpowering Wang Sheng-Yang of Chinese Taipei via Referee Stopped Contest (RSC) in the opening round. His aggressive start and tactical dominance ensured an early end to the bout.
Abhijeet (61 kg) continued India’s winning momentum with a commanding 5-0 win over Mukhammad Burkhanov from Kyrgyzstan. Lakshay Phogat (64 kg) mirrored that dominance, dispatching Jordan’s Laith Ajailat by the same margin, underlining the depth of talent in India’s youth boxing setup.
The Indian girls also held their ground impressively. In the 52 kg category, Princi delivered a clinical performance to claim a 5-0 victory against Ukraine’s Yeva Kubanova. Her technical superiority and poise in the ring were evident throughout the bout.
Samruddhi Satish Shinde (55 kg) wrapped up India’s list of semifinalists with a decisive RSC win in the third round over Ukraine’s Kseniia Savina. Her control and relentless attacking style left little room for her opponent to recover.
Despite the highs, there were some setbacks for the Indian team. Ravi Sihag (52 kg) and Arpit Bishnoi (67 kg) both lost narrowly to their Uzbek opponents by split decisions, 2-3 on points. Naman Saini (58 kg) and Yamanveer Jawandha (70+ kg) also bowed out after losses to strong competitors from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, respectively.
On the women’s side, Yanshika (46 kg) lost her quarterfinal bout to Ukraine’s Viktoriia Amelchenko, going down 1-4 on points.
With five semi-finalists now confirmed, India remains in strong contention for medals in Amman. The upcoming rounds will test their resilience and skill further, but Thursday’s performances have already highlighted a bright future for Indian youth boxing on the continental stage.
