Khelo India Youth Games 2025: Samuel Zadeng Clinches Gold In Boxing, Puts Mizoram On Medal Tally

At just 17 years old, Samuel Zadeng has emerged as one of the standout stories of the Khelo India Youth Games (KIYG) 2025. The young boxer from Mizoram made a thunderous statement on Wednesday by clinching the gold medal in the boys’ 70kg boxing category, delivering a commanding 5-0 unanimous decision win over Uttar Pradesh’s Praveen Yadav in the final. (More Sports News)

Zadeng’s victory not only crowned him champion but also opened Mizoram’s medal account at this year’s edition of the prestigious youth sporting event. It marked a major milestone in the teenager’s budding career and served as a deeply personal triumph rooted in legacy and perseverance.

Boxing runs in Samuel’s blood. He is the son of ZD Lalrensanga, a former national-level boxer whose career was cut short by a debilitating neurological condition. Since 2019, Lalrensanga has battled severe health complications, spending weeks in intensive care and now largely confined to their modest home in the Bawnkaun locality of Aizawl. With the family surviving on a limited army pension, much of it diverted to medical expenses, resources for Samuel’s training have been scarce.

But scarcity has only sharpened Samuel’s resolve.

“This is my first time at the Khelo India Youth Games,” an emotional Samuel told SAI Media after his gold medal bout. “After my bronze at the Youth Nationals, I came here fully focused. Getting into the Khelo India Scheme is my top priority—it would ease the pressure on my family and give me the right platform to improve as a boxer.”

A three-time state silver medallist, Samuel broke through this year to become Mizoram’s reigning state champion in the 70kg category. With his elder sister working in Chennai as an air hostess, and with his father and uncle both having been boxers, Samuel draws immense inspiration from his family’s fighting spirit.

“This medal is more than just a reward—it’s a reminder that I belong here. My dream is to represent India at the highest level. This is just the beginning,” he said.

While Samuel shone for Mizoram, other states flexed their dominance in the boxing ring. Haryana boys topped the table with six gold medals in the ten weight categories, underlining their depth and strength in grassroots boxing. On the girls’ side, Delhi was equally impressive, securing five of the ten golds on offer.

Highlights from other bouts included Chandigarh’s Harsh pulling off a comeback victory over Delhi’s Tikam Singh in the boys’ 55kg final, winning by a 4-1 split decision. Manipur’s Radhamani Longjam edged out Punjab’s Muskan 3-2 in a tightly contested 57kg girls’ final, while Haryana’s Nisha displayed grit in her 3-2 win against Rajasthan’s Jigyasa Patel in the 65kg category.

For Samuel Zadeng, however, the win in Patna is about more than rankings and recognition—it’s about carrying a legacy forward and fighting for a future, both inside and outside the ring. His gold medal is not just a personal achievement but a symbol of Mizoram’s promise in Indian boxing’s next generation.

RESULTS

Boys finals:

50kg: Jatin Sharma (Haryana) beat Brijesh Tamta (Uttarakhand) on points; Bronze medals: Tejas Khokhar (Haryana), Keerthyvasan AK (Tamil Nadu)

55kg: Harsh (Chandigarh) beat Tikam Singh (Delhi) 4:1; Bronze medals: Jaitan (Haryana), Sundram Yadav (Uttar Pradesh)

60kg: Shubham (Haryana) beta Yashvinder Mor (Haryana) on points; Bronze medals: PRINCE KUMAR SINGH (Chhattisgarh), AARYAN DAHIYA (Delhi)

65kg: MAUSAM SUHAG (Haryana) beat Jasrit Mor (Madhya Pradesh) on points; bronze medals: REEWASH RAI (Sikkim), GOURAV (Haryana)

70kg: SAMUEL ZADENG (Mizoram) beat PEAVEEN YADAV (Uttar Pradesh) on points; Bronze Medals: SAGAR THAKUR (Himachal Pradesh), ANSHUL KHASA (Haryana)

75kg: RAHUL KUNDU (Haryana) beat SHUBHDEEP SINGH (Punjab) RSC- Round 3; Bronze medals: ASHISH KUMAR (Delhi), HARSHIT THAPA (Uttarakhand)

80kg: Lokesh (Haryana) beat DIPANSHU (Haryana) on points; Bronze medals: ADITYA (Haryana), NIRBAN JYOTI GOGOI (Assam)

85kg: GOURAV (Delhi) beat ANIKET THAKUR (Himachal Pradesh on Points; Bronze medals: TRIDEV (Haryana), SHIVAM KUMAR (Bihar)

90kg: HEMANT SANGWAN (Haryana) beat ARYAN RAGHAWA (Himachal Pradesh) RSC- Round 1; Bronze Medals: Nikhil (Haryana), Vishal Singh (Punjab)

90+ kg: Krish (Haryana) Beat Vishvajeet Chaudhary (Uttar Pradesh) RSC - Round 1; Bronze Medals: Hardik Balli (Punjab), Priyanshu Kumar (Bihar)

Girls’ finals:

48kg: Suman Kumari (Rajasthan) beat Nidhi (Delhi) on points; Bronze Medals: Anamika (Rajasthan), Samiksha Shananjay Silank (Maharashtra)

51kg: Ahaana Sharma (Delhi) beat Himani (Delhi) Walkover; Bronze Medals: Gunasri V (Tamil Nadu), Sannu Kumawat (Rajasthan)

54kg: Nisha (Rajasthan) beat Jannat (Haryana) on points; Bronze Medals: Shikha (Haryana), Navya (Haryana)

57kg: Radhamani Longjam (Manipur) beat Muskan (Punjab) 3-2; Bronze Medals: Gouri Goswami (Delhi), Kanchan (Haryana)

60kg: Vini (Haryana) beat Manshi Nagar (Delhi) on points; Bronze Medals: Eva Yadav (Haryana), Dimple Yadav (Uttarakhand)

65kg: Nisha (Haryana) beat Jigyasa Patel (Rajasthan) 3-2; Bronze Medals: Anjali (Delhi), Harnoor Kaur (Haryana)

70kg: Akansha Phalaswal (Delhi) beat Nishi Dhull (Chandigarh) on points; Bronze Medals: Sania (Haryana), Komal Mehta (Uttarakhand)

75kg: Aarti Kumari (Delhi) beat Shivani Toor (Punjab) on points: Bronze Medals: Neha Kumari (Rajasthan), Divyanshi Kukreti (Uttarakhand)

80kg: Kritika Wasan (Delhi) beat Anshika Dabas (Chandigarh) on points; Bronze Medals: Anisha Sharma (Rajasthan), Bhakti Ravindrasingh Chun (Maharashtra)

80+kg: Prachi Tokas (Delhi) beat Prathisa M (Tamil Nadu) RSC - Round 3; Bronze Medals: Gurseerat Kaur (Chandigarh), Ishu (Haryana).