China's young boxers take lessons from defeat at Youth Olympics

China's Wang Jia'en struggled to find a way past Egypt's Menatalla Ibrahim in their women's 60kg boxing quarterfinal at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, repeatedly shifting her weight and searching for an opening.

After receiving two standing eight counts in the opening round, Wang was caught by another clean punch in the second, prompting the referee to stop the contest and end her Olympic campaign.

The defeat was particularly disappointing for Wang, who had beaten Ibrahim at a tournament in Bangkok in March and defeated Algeria's Meriem Sari in the round of 16 in Dakar.

"I was given two standing eight counts in the first round, and after that I became a little hesitant about throwing punches," Wang said.

A standing eight count allows the referee to assess whether a boxer can safely continue after taking a significant blow.

"At the Youth Olympic Games, referees apply stricter standards when it comes to standing eight counts because the athletes are young," China coach Gu Hong explained.

Gu described Wang as a technically skilled boxer with good footwork, but suggested she might have underestimated her opponent.

A day later, Wang watched as compatriot Zhang Zhengkun faced Puerto Rico's Jesfred Joel Torres Santiago in the men's 60kg semifinals.

Against his opponent's fast, aggressive attacks, Zhang repeatedly changed positions and used quick jabs in an attempt to establish his rhythm. But Torres Santiago appeared a step quicker, gradually forcing the Chinese onto the defensive.

"He's looking a bit lost today, just like I was yesterday," Wang said from ringside.

"Don't rush. Throw the first punch," she called out to her teammate.

Her encouragement was soon drowned out by the crowd, however, as Zhang struggled to turn the contest in his favor.

Zhang received two standing eight counts in quick succession in the second round. Although he recovered somewhat in the third, he was unable to overturn the deficit and had to settle for bronze.

"My opponent was very strong. His punches carried a lot of power, and he kept putting me under pressure. There is a lot I can learn from him," Zhang said.

"I didn't perform as well as I had hoped. My stamina dropped noticeably in the third round, and that's a weakness I definitely need to work on when I get home."

Despite the setbacks, Gu stressed the importance of international competition in helping young boxers develop their skills, gain experience and learn from opponents with different fighting styles.

For Zhang, the disappointment of missing out on gold was tempered by a clearer understanding of what he needs to improve.

"The experience has helped me recognize where I need to improve. My only regret is that I couldn't reach the top of the podium," said Zhang, who hopes to represent China again in future international competitions.