India’s young boxing stars continued to shine at the Asian U-15 Boxing Championships 2024 in Amman, Jordan, as five boxers—three boys and two girls—secured their places in the semifinals with dominant performances on the fifth day of competition. From the boys’ category, Nelson Khwairakpam (55 kg) set the tone with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) win in the very first round over Wang Sheng-Yang of Chinese Taipei. Displaying aggressive and accurate punches, Nelson left no room for his opponent to recover, earning a spot in the final four with ease.
Joining him in the semifinals were Abhijeet (61 kg) and Lakshay Phogat (64 kg). Abhijeet dominated Mukhammad Burkhanov from Kyrgyzstan with a clean 5-0 victory, while Lakshay also delivered a similar unanimous 5-0 win against Jordan’s Laith Ajailat, showing India’s strength in the middleweight categories. In the girls’ division, Princi (52 kg) showcased her composure and skill in a 5-0 win against Ukraine’s Yeva Kubanova. Her precise footwork and consistent striking kept her opponent on the back foot throughout the bout.
Samruddhi Satish Shinde (55 kg) made it a perfect outing for the Indian girls on the day. She closed her quarterfinal with a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) decision in the third round against Ukraine’s Kseniia Savina, asserting her power and stamina to seal the win convincingly. This success comes on the heels of an already impressive outing, where six Indian boxers had entered the semifinals on Tuesday, making the total count of Indian semifinalists eleven—a significant achievement for the Indian contingent at this prestigious event.
Quarterfinal Results (Men’s U-15):
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52 kg: Ravi Sihag (IND) lost to Elshod Shakirjonov (UZB) – WP 2:3
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55 kg: Nelson Khwairakpam (IND) def. Wang Sheng-Yang (TPE) – RSC R1
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58 kg: Naman Saini (IND) lost to Jakhongirjon Usmankulov (UZB) – WP 0:5
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61 kg: Abhijeet (IND) def. Mukhammad Burkhanov (KGZ) – WP 5:0
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64 kg: Lakshay Phogat (IND) def. Laith Ajailat (JOR) – WP 5:0
With the semifinals approaching, Indian hopes are high, and the momentum is strong. The performances so far reflect the excellent training and preparation by the young boxers, and they are now just one win away from securing a medal and possibly entering the finals. Stay tuned for updates on the semifinal matches as India continues its impressive run at the Asian U-15 Boxing Championships 2024 in Jordan.
