Seventeen-year-old Gunjan earned India's first women's boxing gold medal at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar by winning the 48kg division final. To reach the championship bout, she defeated Great Britain's Lily Bassett 4-1 in the semifinals after tailoring her training to counter her opponent's uppercut. Currently balancing her demanding athletic schedule with Class 12 Arts studies, she is preparing for the senior ranks within a year. Her ultimate career ambitions include representing India at the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and the Olympics.
Key points
Gunjan did not participate in any sports until she felt motivated by a newspaper article…: Gunjan did not participate in any sports until she felt motivated by a newspaper article regarding Neeraj Chopra's Olympic win.
Daily morning and evening training sessions were made possible through the constant trans…: Daily morning and evening training sessions were made possible through the constant transportation assistance provided by Gunjan's parents.
While finishing her Class 12 Arts studies, Gunjan aims to shift to the senior division an…: While finishing her Class 12 Arts studies, Gunjan aims to shift to the senior division and eventually reach the Olympic Games.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
NEW DELHI: For Gunjan, the road to an Olympic dream began with a newspaper feature on
Neeraj Chopra. The Tokyo Olympics gold medallist's historic achievement inspired the Haryana teenager to believe that she, too, could represent India and win an Olympic medal. Five years later, she has taken her first major step towards that ambition, becoming the first Indian woman boxer to win gold at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
The 17-year-old returned home with a historic gold after defeating Algeria's Bouthaina Bensalah 5-0 in the women's 48kg final. Her victory, alongside L Ambekar Meetei's gold in the men's 50kg category, helped India achieve its first-ever double gold in boxing at the Youth Olympics.
Interestingly, Gunjan had not played any sport before Chopra's triumph at the Tokyo Games. And while the javelin thrower's success sparked her sporting ambition, it was boxing that eventually caught her attention.
"I was not playing any sport at that time. I saw Neeraj sir featured in a newspaper. That's when I thought, maybe I can do this too. I tried, and it worked out,"…
The pontiff's ongoing Latin American tour marks a deeply personal return to a nation where he previously lived for decades and holds formal citizenship. While visiting historical sites in the southern Andes, he urged communities to leverage religious traditions to heal societal fractures and foster mutual trust.
Steve Borthwick's side will receive a timely boost for Saturday's critical Nations Championship fixture as three first-choice players rejoin team sessions. Securing a win against New Zealand is essential to keep the squad in contention for the top spot in the Northern Hemisphere division. Earning that position would guarantee a place in the inaugural tournament's final later this month.
Federal authorities intervened against R&R Chinchilla Inc. and its president, James F. Ritterspach, following the documentation of dozens of federal animal welfare violations in Jenera, Ohio. The enforcement action culminated in a court-endorsed consent decree that permanently banned the operator from regulated breeding activities. Animal welfare responders completed the phased evacuation of the animals after inspectors discovered hundreds kept in hazardous, concealed conditions.