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.
Kristian forced two second round standing counts, and was the 5-0 winner on a scoreline of 26:30; 26:30; 26:30; 26:30; 26:30.
The win guarantees Kristian, of Crumlin BC, 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.
Kristian flies home with the team landing in T2, Dublin Airport, on Friday at 12:45 via Madrid.
SCHEDULE DAY 13 – THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER
12:53 Boxing, Men’s 50k Final – Kristian Jubani Ireland (Ireland) V Ambekar Meetei Lairenlakpam (India)