Six Indian athletes have reached the semifinals at the Asian Under-19 and Under-23 Boxing Championship, ensuring six medals for India in the under-19 men’s category.
The ongoing competition in Jakarta, Indonesia, has seen the Indian team excel across multiple weight categories. Aditya (55 kg), Sikandar (60 kg), Mausam Suhag (65 kg), Devendra Chaudhary (75 kg), Sagar (85 kg), and Shubham Rajput (90 kg) have all secured their spots in the semifinals, guaranteeing medals for the nation.
Aditya kicked off India’s winning streak by defeating the Philippines’ Baruis Ephraim John with a unanimous 5:0 decision in the 55 kg category. Sikandar followed suit, overcoming Tajikistan’s Sharifkhon Nurali with a score of 4:1 in the 60 kg category. Mausam Suhag also advanced in the 65 kg category, adding another medal to India’s tally.
In the heavyweight category, Devendra Chaudhary dominated the quarterfinals, winning 5:0 against Indonesia’s Muhammad Rehan Athallah in the 75 kg division.
Sagar delivered the day’s standout performance in the 85 kg category, winning via referee-stopped contest (RSC) against Indonesia’s Irnanda Firmanda in the second round. Shubham Rajput showcased similar dominance in the 90 kg category, achieving victory against Indonesia’s Naval in the first round through RSC.
However, India faced some disappointments in tough matches. Ambedkar Meitei Larenlakap (50 kg) narrowly missed a semifinal spot, losing 3:2 in a split decision to Japan’s Kotaro Nishizaki. Lokesh (80 kg) fell to Kazakhstan’s Taimur Taibekov with a score of 3:1, while Lowen Gulia (90 kg+) lost to Kazakhstan’s Vladislav Samozonov due to RSC in the second round.
With six semifinalists in the under-19 men’s category, India has already secured six medals in this continental championship, highlighting the country’s growing strength in age-group boxing. Semifinal matches will take place in the coming days at the Asian Under-19 and Under-23 Boxing Championship, running from July 5 to 16 in Jakarta.