My Father is a farmer, he always supported me: World U19 Champion boxer Aditya Singh

Aditya Singh, the newly crowned U19 world boxing champion from Berhan village in Rohtak, Haryana, is already looking beyond his breakthrough achievement, with the 2030 Commonwealth Games and 2032 Olympics firmly in his sights.

The 17-year-old made history last week, becoming only the second Indian male boxer to win gold at the World Boxing U19 Championships, claiming the 55kg title in Budva, Montenegro.

On his return, Aditya received a warm welcome in his village, where relatives and members of his boxing academy gathered to celebrate his achievement.

“I am very happy with the win. All my relatives came to congratulate me, and my academy even organised a programme for this victory,” Aditya told TheBridge in an exclusive interview.

Inspired by his uncle and driven by his family’s dreams

Coming from a farming family, Aditya took up boxing on the advice of his uncle, a former boxer who saw the sport as a potential career path for him.

Five years ago, he joined Meham Boxing Club in Rohtak, the same academy where Olympian Preeti Pawar trained in her early days. Under coach Vinod Kumar, he began working towards establishing himself in the sport.

“I have been boxing for five years at Meham Boxing Club after my uncle suggested it could be a good career, as he used to box in his time,” Aditya said.

Although he is the first member of his immediate family to pursue sports, his decision was met with unwavering support at home. His father, a farmer, has taken care of his training expenses, equipment and travel for competitions, often accompanying him to tournaments.

“My father is a farmer, and my mother is a homemaker, but they always supported me. They never stopped me from anything, as they also wanted me to be a boxer,” he said.

Aditya is currently supported by the Reliance Foundation.

A world title built on composure and tactical adjustments

A former junior national champion, Aditya has enjoyed a breakthrough year on the international circuit. He first claimed silver at the Asian U19 Championships before going on to win gold at the World U19 Championships.

His campaign in Montenegro was far from straightforward. In the opening round, he faced one of the pre-tournament favourites, Christian Paez of the USA, a World Futures Cup champion.

Despite the challenge, Aditya stayed composed and executed the strategy prepared with his coaches, securing a dominant RSC victory that gave him an early confidence boost.

“Everyone was thinking I would lose the first bout as my opponent was strong, but my coaches told me how to execute the plan, and I followed it to win,” he said.

He maintained that momentum with three unanimous decision victories over opponents from Serbia, Italy and Azerbaijan to book his place in the final.

The gold-medal bout against Russia's Islam Magomedov presented another test. After losing the opening round, Aditya responded strongly, winning the next two rounds to clinch the world title.

“My coaches felt the first round should have been mine, but it went the other way, so they told me to throw clearer punches. That helped me win the next two rounds 4-1,” he explained.

Another significant adjustment in Aditya's development has been his switch from an orthodox stance to southpaw on his coaches' advice. The change has improved his game, and he intends to continue developing it as he progresses.

A measured path towards the senior level

Despite his world title, Aditya is in no hurry to move up to the senior circuit. He wants to spend another year competing in the youth category, using the time to refine his skills before taking the next step.

That approach also means he is not rushing to target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Instead, he has set his sights on the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2032 Olympics, where he hopes to challenge established Indian boxers in his weight category, including Jadumani Singh and Pawan, for a place in the national team.

“I will continue in the youth category next year as I may not qualify for the 2028 LA Olympics. My targets are the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2032 Olympics,” Aditya said.