Jubani Into Youth Olympic Final After Semi-FInal Win In Dakar

Team Ireland’s Kristian Jubani has booked his place in the Men’s 50kg final at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, continuing an impressive campaign with victory over Mexico in today’s semi-final.

The win guarantees Jubani at least a silver medal and gives the 17-year-old a chance to fight for a Youth Olympic Gold medal, a goal he has been targeting for months.

The Crumlin Boxing Club fighter produced another composed display and felt he grew into the contest, entering the final round knowing the bout was moving in his direction.

“I was prepared for this. I’m ready for this. I trained hard for this, and I’m ready for my job. I feel as if I fight better with better opponents. So, as the fights go on, I fight better. And as the opponents get harder, we go harder, we go better.”

The support for Jubani inside the venue has grown throughout his campaign, and today a vocal Irish contingent was in the crowd, including Irish supporters, some newly adopted Irish fans in Dakar, and Ireland’s Ambassador to Senegal, Deirdre Clancy, alongside colleagues from the Irish Embassy in Dakar.

It was a significant moment for a young boxer who has never hidden the scale of his ambition in Dakar. The final, he said afterwards, is something he has pictured for months.

“The final’s been on my mind for the past couple of months. I’ve envisioned myself in that final. I envisioned myself on top of the podium, and that’s what I came here to do. I’m one step closer to that.”

His opponent in the gold-medal bout will be India’s Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam. Like Jubani, Lairenlakpam arrived in the semi-finals after a referee-stoppage victory in the quarter-finals. The final will take place tomorrow, Thursday 12 November, when the boxing programme concludes with the medal bouts. 

For Jubani, there is little danger of the occasion distracting him from the task at hand. With 24 hours separating him from the contest he has spent months visualising, his message afterwards was simple,

“One goal on my mind, one job on my mind. I’m going to succeed. I’m going to execute.”

And while the Crumlin Boxing Club boxer is carrying forward a proud Irish tradition at the Youth Olympic Games, Jubani remains grounded in where his own journey began.

“Listen, I’m just a young fella from Crumlin. I’m at the big stage, and I’m putting Crumlin on the map, so I’m happy about that.”

The Men’s 50kg finals take place on Thursday 12 November, and boxing action from Dakar 2026 will can be viewed below:

Dakar 2026 Livestream

Homecoming Information

Kristian Jubani flies home with the team after his medal ceremony tomorrow, landing in T2 at 12:45 on the flight via Madrid.

Results Day 1 – Wednesday 11 November

Boxing, Men’s 50k Semifinals, Kristian Jubani (Ireland) BEAT Alan Jesus Ocampo Cano (Mexico) 5-0

Schedule Day 13 – Thursday 12 November

12:53 Boxing, Men’s 50k Final – Kristian Jubani Ireland (Ireland) V Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam (India)