Budva (Montenegro): Indian boxer Megha Sheokand stormed into the women’s 80kg final at the World Boxing U-19 Championships in Budva, Montenegro, after a dominant victory over Kyrgyzstan’s Meerim Chynybekova on October 25. She will now fight Ekaterina Frolova for the gold medal.

Megha controlled the opening round and maintained her authority in the second, forcing the referee to administer three counts to her opponent before the contest was stopped. Her aggressive, disciplined performance underlined India’s growing strength in youth international boxing.

The final represents a major opportunity for the Indian boxer, who is now just one win away from a world U-19 title. Her progression also adds to India’s medal count at the championships, where the contingent has performed strongly across weight categories.

Earlier, Prachi Tokas assured India of a medal by reaching the women’s 80-plus kg semifinals after beating Samoa’s Kealey Perez. However, she had to settle for bronze after losing 1-4 to Russia’s Samira Itonieva in the last-four stage.

India also secured another medal through Harshita, who defeated Ireland’s Grace Bailey 5-0 in the women’s 65kg category to assure the country’s fourth medal of the tournament.

Megha’s final appearance is especially significant because it gives India a chance to convert a strong campaign into a gold medal. Her ability to dominate early rounds and force a stoppage has been one of the standout features of her run in Budva.

With Frolova standing between her and the title, Megha will aim to maintain her attacking intensity while staying composed in the gold-medal bout. A victory would cap an impressive tournament for India’s young boxers and reinforce their rising presence on the world stage.