India celebrated a momentous day at the Youth Asian Games as Yashita secured a gold medal in wrestling, and a staggering six boxers stormed into their respective finals. Yashita's gold is India's first-ever wrestling gold at the Games.
Yashita's path to glory in the girls' 61kg wrestling category was marked by dominant performances. She began her campaign with a 4-1 victory over Jumanazarov of Uzbekistan in the quarterfinals, showcasing excellent upper-body control. In the semi-final, she demonstrated her aggressive intent and superior mat awareness by defeating Chynybaeva from Kyrgyzstan with a 6-0 scoreline. In the final against Kazakhstan's Zhaidar Mukat, Yashita displayed resilience, ultimately clinching the gold on criteria after the bout concluded at a 5-5 tie.
Adding to the jubilation, India's young boxers delivered an outstanding performance, securing six spots in the finals. Five of the finalists are female pugilists: Khushi Chand (46kg), Chandrika Pujari (54kg), Harnoor Kaur (66kg), Anshika (+80kg), and Ahaana (50kg). Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam (50kg) is the sole male boxer from India to reach the final.
Khushi Chand led the charge with a flawless 5-0 win against her Mongolian opponent. Chandrika Pujari followed suit with another commanding 5-0 victory against Kazakhstan, demonstrating controlled aggression and sharp jabs. Harnoor Kaur displayed tactical intelligence and sustained pressure to beat Chinese Taipei with a similar 5-0 margin. Anshika overpowered her Chinese rival. Ahaana faced a tough challenge from Uzbekistan but showed tremendous courage to secure a 3-2 split-decision win. Lanchenba Singh Moibungkhongbam continued his impressive form, registering a dominant 5-0 win over his opponent from the People's Republic of Korea.
Anant Deshmukh showed great grit in the men's 66kg semifinal before bowing out against Kazakhstan's Danial Shalkarbay, securing a bronze medal.
These victories underscore India's growing strength and depth in youth boxing. The young boxers, trained at the National Institute of Sports in Patiala under head coaches Vinod Kumar (boys) and Jitender Raj Singh (girls), will aim to convert their stellar performances into gold as the tournament concludes on October 30.
With the finals approaching, the focus is on these young athletes as they aim to make history and solidify India's position as a rising force in Asian boxing. Their success serves as an inspiration and highlights the effectiveness of India's investment in youth sports development.
