Ritika’s Gold Caps India’s 27-Medal Haul at Asian U-19 & U-22 Boxing Championships

India wrapped up a successful campaign at the Asian U-19 & U-22 Boxing Championships 2025 in Bangkok with a total of 27 medals, as Ritika clinched gold in the women’s 80+kg category on the final day. The 10-day dual championships, featuring the continent’s finest young talent, saw India finish second overall in the U-19 standings and fourth in the U-22 category.

Ritika’s composed and calculated performance in the final against Kazakhstan’s Assel Toktassyn secured India’s fourth gold across both age groups. Mixing caution with bursts of aggression, she landed decisive blows that tilted the bout in her favour. The victory capped off a campaign that underlined the depth and promise of India’s next generation of boxers.

The U-19 contingent emerged as the standout performers, collecting 14 medals — three gold, seven silver, and four bronze. While Uzbekistan led the gold tally with seven, India claimed the highest total medal count in the category. The U-22 squad added 13 more medals, including four silvers, to the overall tally.

Monday’s finals brought both triumph and heartbreak. Yatri Patel took silver in the women’s 57kg division after losing to Uzbekistan’s Khumorabonu Mamajonova, while Priya narrowly missed gold in the 60kg final against Yu Tian of China, falling 2:3. In the men’s competition, Neeraj lost to Uzbekistan’s Shavkatjon Boltaev in the 75kg final, and Ishan Kataria was edged out by Khalimjon Mamasoliev in the 90+kg category — both earning silver medals.

India had sent a robust 40-member team — 20 in each age group — consisting of established youth champions and fresh talent from the domestic circuit. The results reaffirmed the country’s status as a growing boxing force in Asia. This performance follows a dominant showing earlier this year at the Asian U-15 and U-17 Championships, where India bagged 43 medals, including 11 golds in the U-15 category, led by a remarkable sweep from the girls’ team.

The Bangkok campaign served as a crucial test for India’s emerging boxers, many of whom are expected to make the jump to senior competition in the coming years. With strong medal returns and the experience of competing against Asia’s best, the young Indian squads have once again signalled that the nation’s boxing future is in capable, determined hands.