SRINAGAR 15 May : A 14-year-old boxer from Rajouri has created sporting history by becoming the first athlete from Jammu and Kashmir to win a gold medal at the Under-15 Asian Boxing Championship, delivering a landmark achievement for the region on the international stage.
Mohd Yasser produced a remarkable performance throughout the tournament, defeating top contenders en route to the title. He overcame Tajikistan 5–0 in the pre-quarterfinals, followed by a dominant 5–0 victory over Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals. In the semi-finals, he secured a 4–1 win against Iran before sealing the gold medal with a 4–1 triumph over Uzbekistan in the final bout.
His victory against the host nation in the summit clash was widely seen as a display of composure, technical skill, and fighting spirit under pressure.
Behind the sporting success lies a deeply challenging personal journey. A Class 9 student of Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Rajouri, Yasser’s life changed drastically in 2018 when he lost both his father and his family home. The twin tragedy left the family in severe financial hardship.
Since then, his mother, Naseem Akhter, has been working as a domestic helper in local households to sustain the family. Amid these difficulties, Yasser has continued to pursue both his education and boxing training, while also taking up odd jobs to support household expenses and help educate his younger siblings.
Despite limited resources and personal hardship, he continued to train with determination, gradually emerging as one of the most promising young boxers in the region.
His achievement is being widely hailed as a moment of pride for Jammu and Kashmir’s sporting community, reflecting both individual resilience and the growing talent pool in youth boxing.
Rajouri is now celebrating its young champion, whose success is expected to inspire many aspiring athletes across the region and beyond.
Meanwhile, the Rajouri district administration felicitated the young boxer in an official statement, congratulating Mohammad Yasser on winning the Asian Boxing Championship title and bringing laurels to Rajouri on the international stage. “Your determination, dedication and relentless hard work have created history and inspired an entire generation,” the statement read.
